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Bite force and dentofacial morphology in men with severe dental attrition
Author(s) -
Waltimo Antti,
Nysträm Marjatta,
Känänen Mauno
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0722.1994.tb01161.x
Subject(s) - molar , bite force quotient , masticatory force , dentition , dentistry , medicine , orthodontics , dental arch , mandible (arthropod mouthpart) , skull , anatomy , biology , botany , genus
Patients with severely worn dentition were interviewed and clinically examined, and only those were included who had no or minimal subjective symptoms or clinical signs of craniomandibular disorder. During a 14‐month screening period, only 7 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria; all were men. Maximal bite force was measured in the molar regions and in the incisal region. Facial morphology was evaluated from lateral cephalometric radiographs, and the form of dental arches from dental casts. Average maximal bite force in the molar region was 911 N and in the incisal region 569 N. The most characteristic findings concerning bite force were the high force levels in the incisal region and an incisal/molar bite‐force ratio of 63%. The facial morphology of the patients was rectangular, with an anteriorly rotated mandible, small anterior face height, and great interincisal angle. Moreover, the form of the maxillary dental arch was more rectangular than normal. The high bite forces of these patients, especially in the incisal area, can probably be explained by strong masticatory muscles and mechanically favorable skull morphology, which in its turn has been influenced by the surrounding muscles.