Effect of treatment of dentofacial deformity on masseter muscle thickness

SummaryObjectiveThe objective of the present study was to determine the modifications in masseter muscle thickness before and after interdisciplinary orthodontic, oromyofunctional and surgical treatment of class III dentofacial skeletal deformities (DFSD).DesignFifteen patients with class III DFSD participated in the study, denoted P1 group before the interdisciplinary treatment and P2 group (same patients) 6–8 months after surgery. Fifteen individuals with no DFSD were used as the control group. Bilateral ultrasonography (US) of the masseter muscle under resting and biting conditions was performed in the three groups.ResultsThere was a significant difference (P < 0.01) for all muscles tested between the control, P1 and P2 groups, with greater thickness for controls, intermediate thickness for P2, and the lowest thickness for P1 in all situations evaluated.ConclusionWe conclude that there was an increase in masseter muscle thickness after surgical correction of DFSD accompanied by interdisciplinary treatment, although the values were still lower than those observed in the control group.