The association of malocclusions with masseter muscle thickness based on ultrasonography measurements : a retrospective cohort study

Article Article scientifique Article The association of malocclusions with masseter muscle thickness based on ultrasonography measurements : a retrospective cohort study eng 2025-10-15 2025-09-17 author Papagiannopoulos Dimitrios Division of Orthodontics, University Clinics of Dental Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, Geneva 1206, Switzerland. 405215 author Georgiakaki Ioanna Private Practice, Venloer Straße 107, Pulheim 50259, Germany. author Charalampidou Maria Division of Orthodontics, University Clinics of Dental Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, Geneva 1206, Switzerland. 912242 author Haidich Anna-Bettina Department of Hygiene, Social-Preventive Medicine and Medical Statistics, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki University Campus, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece. author Antonarakis Gregory 0000-0001-6741-6922 Division of Orthodontics, University Clinics of Dental Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, Geneva 1206, Switzerland. 133276 CUMD - Division d'orthodontie - communs (DORT) author Kiliaridis Stavros 0000-0001-9548-2628 Division of Orthodontics, University Clinics of Dental Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, Geneva 1206, Switzerland.,Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, Bern 3010, Switzerland. 130544 Décanat et administration de la faculté de médecine (ADMED) cjaf084 10.1093/ejo/cjaf084 41091660 0141-5387 PMC12527289 https://academic.oup.com/ejo/article/doi/10.1093/ejo/cjaf084/8286465 Aim: To investigate whether the functional capacity of elevator masticatory muscles, estimated by masseter muscle thickness, is associated with malocclusions in the sagittal, vertical, and transverse axes. Materials and methods: 670 consecutive cases were evaluated. Pre-treatment dental casts were examined for malocclusion characteristics (overjet, sagittal molar relationships, overbite, posterior crossbite), and ultrasonographic measurements of the masseter muscles were used for thickness measurements. Gender, age, and BMI were also recorded. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the association of masseter thickness with age, gender, BMI, and malocclusions. A subgroup analysis across age groups explored whether age and gender had a different impact on their association with masseter muscle thickness, and a paired t-test examined possible asymmetry in masseter muscle thickness between the crossbite and non-crossbite sides. Results: Males showed thicker masseter muscles than females by 0.8 mm. Older-growing individuals presented thicker muscles, with a 1-year age increase resulting in a 0.1 mm increase in mean thickness, and patients with increased values of BMI presented thicker muscles. A 1mm overbite increase was associated with 0.1mm thicker masseter muscle. Patients with unilateral posterior crossbite showed thinner muscles on their crossbite (11.15 mm) than the non-crossbite side (11.42 mm) with a mean difference of 0.27 mm (P = 0.002). Conclusions: Masseter muscle thickness was greater in males, subjects with increased values of BMI, and older-growing individuals, showing age-related growth that plateaued in adulthood. Patients with deep bite had thicker muscles, while patients with unilateral posterior crossbite showed thinner muscles on their crossbite side than on the non-crossbite side. BMI Crossbite Deep bite Malocclusions Masseter muscle Ultrasound Dewey 617.6 209 Division d'orthodontie 24Q1 false 1448 Orthodontie 1065 European journal of orthodontics 47 5 67347fb8-be70-4a43-9e04-5656f6149f1c Article (Published version) Public cjaf084.pdf 502040 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 9d7c7da9b53be20f90a53c4e31a1ccd51470ace0abe8ded23c6f77a993d41d8a d393ef9e-1d38-4b6b-876d-a52bd36631af Supplemental data Public cjaf084_supplementary_data.docx 31858 application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document 64ac307405c3093d9411e8acfb5f99d628509b48b102e54bac501457a04d3733 openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine dentaire / Département de réhabilitation oro-faciale / Division d'orthodontie

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The association of malocclusions with masseter muscle thickness based on ultrasonography measurements : a retrospective cohort study	European journal of orthodontics			2025	12	126

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Papagiannopoulos, Dimitrios