Purpose: To evaluate the electromyographic (EMG) activity of masseter muscles (MMs) after the provision of new complete dentures (CDs) and to assess the possible correlations between clinical behavior and the EMG findings.
Materials and methods: The sample included 78 edentulous participants (56 women, 22 men; mean age: 65.59 ± 10.47 years). Prior to provision of the new CDs, surface EMG activity of the masseter muscles was recorded during rest, maximum voluntary contraction, and mastication (MAST) using a wax artifact (WA). The tests were repeated using the new CDs, followed by the WA, at 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, and 10 months. At each assessment after placement of the CDs, the participants were questioned regarding five parameters (comfort, esthetics, retention, mastication, and speech).
Results: There was an initial decline in the EMG activity of the masseter muscles after the provision of new CDs during MAST, followed by a gradual increase in this activity over time (P > .05). There was a significant improvement in MAST reported by participants at 10 months (3.59 ± 1.141) compared to 7 days (2.50 ± 1.058) (P = .011). There was no significant correlation between the EMG findings and the clinical parameters (P > .05).
Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference in EMG activity of the MMs over time, an improvement in MAST reported by the participants was observed.