Evaluation of the effect of periodontal health on stomatognathic system with ultrasonography

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of the level of periodontal disease on SS by analysing the length, thickness, cross-sectional area and shear wave elastography values of the masseter, digastric anterior, geniohyoid, mentalis, and temporal muscles at rest and maximum bite, using USG and ultrasonographic elastography. Method: The masticatory muscles of a total of 90 patients were evaluated bilaterally by ultrasonography at rest and during maximum bite. The individuals forming the study group were selected from patients who had periodontitis findings and met the criteria according to the panoramic X-rays routinely obtained from the patients and clinical examination. The length, width, area and shear wave elastography values of the digasticus anterior, geniohyoideus, mentalis, masseter and temporal muscles at rest and maximum bite were analysed. In independent two-group analyses, Independent Samples T Test was used for normally distributed data and Mann Whitney U Test for non-normally distributed data. Results: There were no significant differences in ultrasonographic measurements of the masseter and temporalis muscles between periodontitis I, periodontitis II and control groups. In elasticity comparisons, measurements of the right and left masseter, right and left temporalis, and mental muscles were higher in the control group than in the periodontitis II group both at rest and at maximum bite. Conclusion: Elasticity findings of the evaluated muscles of healthy and periodontally diseased individuals were found to be different. Key words: ultrasonography, elastography, periodontitis