Differences in Pain Threshold Values of Masseter and Temporalis Muscles Before and After Mastication

Abstract Objective: To analyze the differences in the pain thresholds of the masseter and temporalis muscles before and after chewing at the 5th and 10th minutes. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the pain thresholds of the muscles in both sides of 43 non-TMD subjects were measured using a digital algometer before and after chewing the bubble gum Xylitol for 5 and 10 min. The values of the muscles before and after mastication at the 5th and 10th were analyzed using Repeated ANOVA. A difference in the values between the left and right sides of the muscles were analyzed using independent t-test, and among the age groups using one-way ANOVA. Results: Average pain threshold values were 1.76 and 1.93 KgF/cm2 for the masseter and temporalis muscles. ANOVA tests indicated significant differences in the values of the muscles before and after mastication at the 5th and 10th min (p=0.000 vs. p0.05) and among the age groups (p>0.05) showed no significant difference. However, the values between temporalis and masseter and the values between men and women for each session revealed a significant difference (p