Análise da possível relação entre o antímero de preferência para apresentação facial e o de dominância mastigatória aferido por meio do exame eletromiográfico.

Abstract

Currently, with the success of social media, selfies have emerged as a way to construct an ideal self-image by presenting the side of the face considered most attractive. Additionally, when there is a preferred masticatory side, the muscles involved in chewing develop asymmetrically, making this difference aesthetically apparent on the face. This study aimed to evaluate the possible relationship between the preferred side for image capture, the reported masticatory preference side, and the side with the highest electrical activity of the masseter muscle. Data were collected in two stages: 1) responses to a structured questionnaire about the preferred side for image capture and the reported masticatory preference side; 2) electromyographic data collection of the masseter muscle bilaterally. After analysis, only the intersection of the reported masticatory preference side in females X the side with the highest RMS value in chewing in females yielded a statistically significant result (p = 0.0440). We can conclude that there is a relationship between the reported masticatory preference side, the preferred side for facial presentation, and the side with the highest electrical activity of the masseter, as: the reported masticatory preference side mostly coincided with the side chosen for facial presentation; the reported chewing side mostly matched the side with the highest RMS value in chewing; most women prefer the left side and chew on the left side, while men show the same preference for the right side of the face.