Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the behavior of the major chewing muscles (anterior temporalis, masseter and suprahyoid muscles) by using two commercial chewing gums (A and B) and two insipid materials (cotton ball and Parafilm M) through analysis of electromyographic signals.
Method: Ten female young adult subjects, aged from 18 to 27 years, with normal occlusion and no history of craniomandibular disorder were studied The masticatory activity was performed with the subjects comfortably sat so that the Frankfurt plane was parallel to the floor. Electromyographic exams were carried out using bipolar surface passive mini-electrodes positioned on the anterior temporalis, masseter, and suprahyoid muscles. The subjects were guided to chew bilaterally and simultaneously each one of the materials, in aleatory sequence. For the study of the masticatory activity the electromyographic signals were processed through rectification, linear envelope and normalization, so that the coefficient of variation obtained from the procedure was comparatively analyzed. All data were submitted to analysis of variance (uni- and multi-varied).
Results: The results of this study indicated that the best materials for electromyographic studies on the chewing were Parafilm and cotton ball because they demonstrated the smallest coefficients of variation.
Conclusion: In addition, Parafilm showed the best palatability. In a general way, these materials are indicated for the accomplishment of electromyographic exams, since they demonstrated a smaller coefficient of variation as compared to the other materials.