Investigation of the Effect of Body Mass Index and Anxiety on Masseter Muscle Thickness on Ultrasonography

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of body mass index (BMI) and anxiety on masseter muscle thickness by using ultrasonography.

A total of 68 patients were included in this study. Height and weight of the patients were measured. BMI was calculated. The Control Group Without Anxiety - Normal BMI (15 patients) was composed of patients in general. Working groups were formed as High BMI & Anxiety Normal (19 patients), Normal BMI & High Anxiety (15 patients), and High BMI & High Anxiety (19 patients). The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) was applied to the participants. Muscle thickness measurements were first measured by using the high-frequency linear scanning probe of an ultrasound device to measure the contraction and relaxation of the right masseter muscle. Then, the contraction and relaxation of the left masseter muscle was measured.

Inclusion criteria

• The study group consisted of individuals between the ages of 18 and 45 who, according to an examination of the masseter muscles under the 'Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD),' had the presence of pain in at least one region in the palpation made from three regions (origin, center, attachment zone) or had pain in chewing muscles in the preceding month.

Exclusion criteria

• Exluded from the study where those who had experienced any systemic discomfort from the study group, those who had undergone acute temporomandibular joint trauma, those who had experienced early occlusion of the teeth, those who were using any moving dental prosthesis, those with clenching habits, those who use cigarette-alcohol, those with temporomandibular joint discomfort, and those with unilateral chewing habits.