The surgery for extraction of the retained lower third molar is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the field of maxillofacial surgery. During this procedure, the surgical trauma can cause damage to the function of muscles involved in mandibular movements, such as the masseter muscle. In order to accelerate post-surgical recovery, many physiotherapy resources are employed, including laser therapy. The aim was to analyze the electrical activity of the masseter muscle treated with Low-level Laser (LLL) after surgical trauma. Assessments of masseter muscle on a sample of 60 patients were performed by surface electromyography in four instances: immediate preoperative, postoperative at 7, 14 and 21 days. The patients were divided into two groups: 1- untreated group with LLL in the postoperative; 2- group treated with LLL (810 nm; 10 J/cm2) in the immediate postoperative and at 3, 6 and 9 days after surgery. On the seventh day after surgery 23.3 % of the patients in the group receiving LLL showed recovery of their muscle activity as they presented in the immediate preoperative, versus only 3.3 % of the untreated group. On the 14th day, 73.3% of treated patients showed functional rehabilitation, versus 6.7% in the untreated group, and on the 21st, 80% versus 10% in the untreated group. On the 14th postoperative day the electrical activity of the masseter muscle treated with LLL after surgical trauma was compatible with a condition of complete functional recovery. The findings of this electromyographic study indicated that LLL proved to be an efficient physiotherapeutic method for stimulating the masseter muscle functional recovery after surgery of retained lower third molars.

La cirugía para extracción del tercer molar mandibular retenido es uno de los procedimientos más realizados en el campo de la cirugía maxilofacial. Durante este procedimiento, el trauma quirúrgico puede causar daño a la función de los músculos involucrados en los movimientos mandibulares, entre ellos el músculo masetero. Con el objetivo de acelerar la recuperación postoperatoria, son utilizados muchos recursos de fisioterapia, incluyendo la terapia con láser. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la actividad eléctrica del músculo masetero tratado con láser de baja intensidad (LBI) después del trauma quirúrgico. Se realizaron evaluaciones del músculo masetero en una muestra de 60 pacientes, a través de electromiografía de superficie en cuatro momentos: preoperatorio inmediato, postoperatorio a los 7, 14 y 21 días. Los pacientes fueron divididos en dos grupos: 1 - grupo no tratado con LBI en el postoperatorio; 2 - grupo tratado con LBI (810 nm; 10 J/cm2) en el postoperatorio inmediato y a los 3, 6 y 9 días tras cirugía. Al séptimo día tras cirugía el 23,3 % de los pacientes del grupo tratado con LBI presentaron recuperación de su actividad muscular equivalente a lo presentado en el preoperatorio inmediato, frente a sólo el 3,3 % del grupo no tratado. En el día 14, el 73,3% de los pacientes tratados presentaron rehabilitación funcional, frente al 6,7% del grupo no tratado y en el vigésimo primer día, el 80% frente al 10% del grupo no tratado. En el dia 14 postoperatorio la actividad eléctrica del músculo masetero tratado con LBI después del trauma quirúrgico fue compatible con una condición de recuperación funcional completa. Los hallazgos de este estudio electromiográfico indicaron que el LBI es un eficiente método fisioterápico para estimular la recuperación funcional del músculo masetero tras cirugía de terceros molares mandibulares retenidos.

Third molar extraction surgery is one of the most frequently performed procedures in the areas of buccal-maxillofacial traumatology and surgery. The post-surgery evolution was evaluated based on the clinical evidence obtained so far. The objective of this study was to analyze the post-surgery clinical evolution of the masseter muscle by means of surface electromyography, to evaluate muscle activity. Four analyses were performed: one pre-surgery, to register the normal activity, and three in post-surgery: on the 7th, 14th and 21st postoperative days, in a sample of 30 patients. On the 21st day, there was near normal recovery of the electrical signal of the masseter in women, but in men this activity did not reach normal levels. Surface electromyography is a safe and reliable tool for post-surgery evolution control of masseter function.

La cirugía de extracción del tercer molar es uno de los procedimientos realizados con mayor frecuencia en las áreas de traumatología y cirugía buco-maxilofacial. La evolución post-quirúrgica fue evaluada sobre la base de la evidencia clínica obtenida hasta el momento. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la evolución clínica post-operatoria del músculo masetero por medio de electromiografía de superficie, para evaluar la actividad muscular. Fueron realizados cuatro análisis: uno previo a la cirugía, para registrar la actividad normal, y tres en la post-quirúrgica: en el día del 7, 14 y 21 postoperatorio, en una muestra de 30 pacientes. El día 21, hubo recuperación cercana a la normal de la señal eléctrica del músculo masetero en las mujeres, pero en los hombres esta actividad no alcanzó los niveles normales. La electromiografía de superficie es una herramienta segura y fiable para el control de la evolución post-quirúrgica de la función del músculo masetero.

Traffic accidents are a reality throughout Brazil. The face is one of the anatomic parts most affected by these accidents, especially when a seat belt is not used. These accidents are costly for the public health system and have a significant impact on society and the lives of families involved. The compulsory use of seat belts in Brazil, especially in São Paulo, has decreased the rate of facial trauma. This suggests that the public health policies and measures adopted by the Brazilian authorities have benefited the population 15 years after the enactment of the law of compulsory seat belts in the city of São Paulo

A eletromiografia tem se mostrado um método eficaz no auxilio de diagnósticos e tratamentos de desordens musculares. Na odontologia sua principal aplicação é no tratamento das Disfunções Temporomandibulares. Os profissionais de odontologia não utilizam esta técnica por desconhecerem seus benefícios ou mesmo não terem conhecimento sobre o assunto. Um dos principais objetivos do tratamento utilizando eletromiografia é mostrar ao paciente o estado atual do músculo analisado e sua evolução durante o tratamento, até chegar a uma função satisfatória.

The electromyography has if shown an effective method in the aid of diagnoses and treatments of muscular disorders. In dentistry your main application it is in Dysfunction Temporomandibular treatment. The dentistry professionals don't use this technique for they ignore their benefits or even they have not knowledge on the subject. One of the main objectives of the treatment using electromyography is to show to the patient the current state of the analyzed muscle and your evolution during the treatment, until arriving to a satisfactory function.