Influence of periodontal receptors on the jaw-jerk reflex amplitude in man.

To study the role of periodontal mechanoreceptors in the modulation of the human jaw-jerk reflex, 60 reflexes were elicited in each of six healthy individuals under three different conditions: (a) with unilateral tooth support on the ipsilateral side; (b) with support on the contralateral side; and (c) with support and local anesthesia of the periodontal tissues on the ipsilateral side. During all conditions, background muscle activity and mandibular displacement were kept as constant as possible. Using on-surface EMG and the amplitude of the first peak of the biphasic jaw-jerk potential as the outcome variable, a condition-dependent reflex amplitude was found for the visually controlled right anterior temporalis muscle. Specifically, the 'ipsilateral support plus anesthesia' condition yielded higher amplitudes than the 'ipsilateral support' condition. Highest amplitudes were found for the 'contralateral support' condition. It was concluded that periodontal mechanoreceptors on the ipsilateral side have an inhibitory effect on the jaw-jerk reflex amplitude in the anterior temporalis muscle.