SynthesisFrontiers in oral health2026
TENS/EMG-guided myocentric mandibular positioning: a systematic review and evidence map.
Synthesis in Frontiers in oral health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
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Abstract
Introduction and aims: Jaw registration protocols using TENS and/or EMG have been proposed to identify a physiologically relaxed mandibular position. Occlusal splints, neuromuscular orthoses, and mouthguards fabricated in this position have been proposed to improve masticatory muscle function, body posture, athletic performance, and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms, but the evidence is limited and heterogeneous. This review aimed to systematically map and appraise the evidence on neuromuscular/myocentric mandibular positioning (TENS- and EMG-guided jaw posture) and its associations with (1) masticatory and postural muscle activity, (2) posture/locomotor symmetry, and (3) TMD-related symptoms and athletic performance. Methods: This systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (Registration ID: CRD420251125459). A PICOS framework was used to define eligibility criteria. Human studies assessing neuromuscular/myocentric mandibular position or appliances (neuromuscular orthoses, myocentric splints, neuromuscular mouthguards) and comparing them with conventional occlusion (centric relation, centric occlusion, habitual occlusion, or standard custom-made mouthguards) were included. Primary outcomes were EMG activity, postural/balance measures, and TMD symptoms; secondary outcomes were strength and performance measures. Risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2 for randomized/crossover trials and ROBINS-I for non-randomized studies. Due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis was conducted, and the certainty of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Results: Six studies met inclusion criteria (two crossover RCTs, three within-subject experimental studies, and one non-randomized pre-post cohort; total Conclusions: Evidence is sparse and methodologically limited; current findings are hypothesis-generating and do not justify routine clinical or performance claims. Clinical relevance: Neuromuscular/myocentric approaches may be considered in selected cases as an adjunct within DC/TMD-aligned care pathways, but current evidence is insufficient to support routine adoption or performance-related claims. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251125459, PROSPERO CRD420251125459.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.