The effect of rehabilitation exercises on masticatory function recovery after orthognathic surgery

Dentofacial deformities are commonly corrected through orthognathic surgery, which aims to restore both masticatory function and aesthetics. However, such surgery can lead to weakening of the masticatory muscles. Research indicates that postoperative rehabilitation can significantly improve muscular function and enhance recovery. The systematic review was conducted in alignment with the PRISMA guidelines. The electronic search with keywords "orthognathic surgery” AND “masticatory function" AND "postoperative physiotherapy" was performed using 5 databases and registers. The search yielded a total of 759 research articles, and after applying selection criteria, 5 were included in the final analysis. A total of 186 patients with skeletal malocclusion who underwent orthognathic surgery participated in the conducted studies. Experimental groups (functional training) and control groups (non-training) were compared. Postoperative rehabilitation interventions included chewing exercises, jaw exercises, and orofacial myofunctional therapy. Chewing exercises improved masticatory width, occlusal force, as well as chewing patterns by 60%, compared to 21% in the control group. Electromyography revealed increased masseter and temporalis muscle activity following functional training. Jaw exercises led to faster recovery of muscle activity at 6 weeks and greater overall recovery by 6 months. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy significantly enhanced masticatory function, chewing efficiency, muscle tone, and activity. However, the chewing exerciser did not demonstrate significant improvements in masticatory function post-surgery. Postoperative rehabilitation can enhance masticatory function after orthognathic surgery, but the effectiveness of specific interventions varies depending on the timing and intensity of therapy.