Influence of occlusal splint adjusted to different vertical dimensions on electromyographic activity, during maximum clenching in patients with MPD syndrome

The aim of this study was to compare the integrated electromyographic (EMG) activity of the masseter muscle during maximum voluntary clenching using occlusal splints of type SVED, adjusted to different vertical dimension (VD) in 24 subjects with myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome (MPD syndrome). EMG activity was significantly lower in subjects with than in those without splints. In addition, EMG activity in subjects with splints was significantly lower in those subjects for which the vertical height of the splint was near to the VD at which the masseter develops least EMG activity.