A Reproducible and Reliable Method for Measuring Masseter Muscle Thickness in Maximal Bite Force Using Ultrasonography

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop a reproducible and reliable method for evaluating the masseter's functional state by measuring the masseter muscle with ultrasonography (US).Methods: Methods: Nineteen healthy adults (9 males, 10 females) were the subjects of this study. During US scanning, the image was taken from the thickest part of the masseter muscle in the image. To evaluate changes in thickness during masseter function, US images were taken of the participant's masseter muscle at rest and during clenching. In this study, US scanning was conducted using two approaches to compare the difference in masseter muscle thickness determined when inducing maximum bite force (MBF).Results: Results: All 19 subjects completed US scanning of the masseter muscle at rest and during clenching under the conventional method and the articulation paper method. There was no difference in masseter muscle thickness measured at rest. However, the thickness of the masseter muscles determined by the articulation paper during jaw clenching was greater than that measured by the conventional method. Conclusions: Conclusions: In conclusion, using the US for masseter muscle evaluation can offer objective and functional information on the masseter muscle. A standardized US scanning method needs to be developed to obtain reproducible and reliable information on the masseter muscle at rest and during clenching. In particular, generating MBF using an articulation paper can be a reproducible and reliable method of measuring the functional state of the masseter muscle.