Objective: The aim: Is to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method of constructing occlusal surfaces of orthopedic structures by monitoring the dynamics of functional indicators of occlusion and the functional condition of the masticatory muscles.
Patients and methods: Materials and methods: The object of the study was made up by 64 patients with included defects of the dentition of the 3rd class according to Kennedy. Patients were divided into two equal groups - the main group (patients were treated by using the suggested method of construction of occlusal surfaces of orthopedic structures) and control (dentition defects were replaced according to the traditional protocol).
Results: Results: The results of evaluating the effectiveness of the proposed method showed that the index of symmetry of the anterior bundles of the temporal muscles dropped by 18.5%, the index of symmetry of the masticatory muscles reduced by 22%, the torque of the mandible reduced by 32%, the index of stabilizing occlusal - by 27%, relative efforts of balance disturbance for more than 10 % regarding the left and right reduced by a factor of 4.4, the rate of opening time was 1.5 times higher than before, the rate of time of opening of the jaws - 1.8 times.
Conclusion: Conclusions: The use of the suggested method of orthopedic treatment with temporary structures leads to probable changes in the studied functional parameters in comparison with the control group (p <0,05).
Keywords: masticatory muscle; occlusion relationship; orthopedic constructions.