This document discusses the buccinator mechanism and its role in maintaining dental arch form and tooth position. It describes the buccinator muscle, its origin, insertion, and actions of drawing the corners of the mouth laterally and flattening the cheeks. The buccinator mechanism encircles the face along with other muscles. It balances pressure from the tongue to help stabilize tooth position. Malocclusions can result from abnormalities in buccinator or other facial muscle function. Myofunctional appliances used in orthodontics rely on muscle activity like that of the buccinator to help correct tooth alignment issues.

1. The Buccinator MechanismThe Buccinator Mechanism
Dr. KAPIL SAROHA
BDS, MDS
ORTHODONTICS AND DENTOFACIAL ORTHOPAEDICS
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2. CONTENTSCONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION
 ORO-FACIAL MUSCLES
 BUCCINATOR
 BUCCINATOR MECHANISM
 ROLE IN MAINTAINING ARCH FORM AND
TEETH POSITION
 ROLE IN MALOCCLUSION
 USE IN TREATMENT OF MALOCCLUSION
 CONCLUSION
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3. IntroductionIntroduction
The muscles of oral region are
involved in functions of swallowing ,
respiration and speech . They not only
affects the physical and aesthetic
appearance but also influences the
dental and skeletal components of an
individual .
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4.  it is believed that abnormal posture and
function of oro-facial muscle may be
causative or at least contributory to
formation of dental malocclusion
Hence muscle of oro-facial region are of
great importance to one of the main aims of
orthodontics that is to achieve structural
balance and harmony.
Which is achieved only when there is
harmony between jaw , teeth and muscles .
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5. Facial musclesFacial muscles
They can be classified as
– Muscles of mastication
– Muscles of facial expression
 Circumorbital muscles
 Nasal muscles
 Oro-facial muscles
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6. They constitute to form the modiolus
Modiolus literally means “ hub of wheel”
It forms the mesial boundary of occlusal
table
These muscles are important for facial
expression and also in maintaining posture
of various facial structures
Any abnormality in these muscles function
can lead to skeletal or occlusal problems
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8. BuccinatorBuccinator
It is a quadrilateral muscle between maxilla
and mandible
 it forms the mobile and adaptive substance
of cheek
 origin
 Arises from outer surface of alveolar
process of maxilla and mandible opposite
third molar teeth and posteriorly attached to
pterygomandibular raphe
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10. Insertion
Anterior buccinator fibers converge
towards the modiolus near the buccal
angle
The central fibers decussates so that it
continues into the orbicularis oris
muscle
While the highest and lowest fibers
enter into the corresponding lips

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11. ActionsActions
It draws the corner of the mouth laterally
pulling the lips against the teeth and flattens
the cheek
It aids in functions like swallowing ,
blowing etc
 keeps cheek in close contact with teeth so
prevents pocketing of food between teeth
and the cheek
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12. Buccinator mechanismBuccinator mechanism
Starting with the decussating fibers of the
orbicularis oris the buccinator runs laterally
and posteriorly around the corner of the
mouth it inserts into the pterygomandibular
raphe just behind the dentition
 Here it mingles with the fibers of superior
constrictor which attaches to pharyngeal
tubercle of occipital bone
 Thus completely encircling the face
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13. www.drdentiste.com
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14. Strong inter-dependence occur between
bone and muscle although bone is one of
the hardest tissues in body it is one of the
most responsive to change whenever there
is an alteration to in environment balance.
The most important in this environment
balance is the musculature
The teeth and supporting structures are
constantly under influence of contiguous
musculature buccinator and lips and lips on
other side
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16. Role of buccinator mechanism inRole of buccinator mechanism in
maintaining arch form and teethmaintaining arch form and teeth
positionposition
The integrity of dental arches and the
relationship of the teeth to each other
within each arch and with opposing
members are result of morphogenetic
pattern as modified by stabilizing and active
function forces of muscle the tongue on
one side and lips and cheek on other side
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18.  Importance of pressure
from lips and cheek
can be derived from a
case of cancrum oris .
Here there was an
ulceration followed by
gangrenous
distribution of buccal
mucosa . As the cheek
was destroyed the
teeth began to move
outwards under the
unopposed pressure
from the tongue
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19.  Similarly in case of un-repaired cleft lip one often
sees proclination of incisors although in buccal
segments where cheek are normal teeth are in
normal relationship
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20. Another concept was given by Wifred fish
of neutral zone - acc to him the teeth
occupy a dead space in mouth in a state of
equilibrium . The inwards pressure by
cheek and lips is balanced by the outward
pressure of tongue
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The dental arch form is determined early in
fetal life and form of basal arch does not
change. It is believed as long as total
pressure acting on teeth is balanced the
position of teeth is stabilized
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21. Use of buccinator mechanismUse of buccinator mechanism
in correcting malocclusionin correcting malocclusion
Alfred Paul Rogers was first to recommend
use of muscles to correct malocclusion
Myofunctional appliance depend on oro-
facial muscle for their function
Its essence was to use muscle activity as a
primary source for resolution of
malocclusion
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