The patient/client is sitting (or standing) and either facing a mirror or facing the person who will clench the teeth. After showing a picture or demonstrating this motion, ask the patient/client to clench his/her teeth. With the muscle relaxed initially and with permission, gently place one or two fingers on the temple area of the head and ask the patient/client to clench the teeth. Ask the person to relax and repeat these motions if necessary. If permission is not granted, then observe as the person clenches the teeth, relaxes and then clenches the teeth again.

This video demonstrates palpation of the temporalis as well as the masseter muscles. The temoralis is palpated on the temple area of the head and the masseter is palpated on the posterior cheek near the mandible. On the video, these muscles are palpated only after muscle activation for better viewing. The correct technique of palpation of muscle includes the sequence of muscle activation, relaxation of the muscle, placement of the fingers on the muscle before the muscle is activated, activation of the muscle, and relaxation of the muscle.