Objective:

To relate activity and muscle strength to molar ratio, gender, and age range in children 7-12 years old with atypical swallowing.

Materials and Methods:

A probability sampling in a case-control analytic study was used to assess 88 children 7-12 years old in each group. A Surface electromyography (SEMG) of the orbicularis oris, mentalis, and masseter muscles was performed. The compressive strength of the orbicularis oris of the lips (CSO), contractile strength of the right masseter muscle (CSRM), and of the left masseter muscle (CSLM) were determined by dynamometry, as were the extensor strength of the lingual muscles (ESLM) and the resistance strength of the orbicularis oris of the lip (RSO). Statistical comparisons with the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test (p <0.05) were performed.

Results:

SEMG amplitudes of mentalis and masseter muscles were significantly higher for the AS group compared to the control groups. Both genders showed lower contractile strength of the masseter muscle and the extensor strength of the lingual muscle in contrast to the control group. The group of children 7-9 years old with atypical swallowing differs from the control group with respect to the compression strength of the orbicularis oris muscle, and the group of children 10-12 years old with atypical swallowing shows a significant decrease with respect to the strength of all muscles.

Conclusion:

Patients with as show a greater molar ratio in Class II and Class III on both sides. Muscle activity and strength of the masseter muscle differs between genders with as and without as. This difference increases with age.

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