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Estimation of jaw‐opening forces in adults
Author(s) -
Brunton P. A.,
Loch C.,
Waddell J. N.,
Bodansky H. J.,
Hall R.,
Gray A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
orthodontics and craniofacial research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1601-6343
pISSN - 1601-6335
DOI - 10.1111/ocr.12215
Subject(s) - anthropometry , bite force quotient , medicine , orthodontics , dentition , temporomandibular joint , population , physical therapy , dentistry , environmental health
Structured Abstract Objectives To estimate maximum jaw‐opening forces in healthy participants of diverse ancestry and to estimate whether opening forces are associated with sex, age and anthropometric parameters such as height, weight and BMI . Setting and Sample Population One hundred and forty‐nine participants aged 20‐60 years with overall good oral and general health. Exclusion criteria included myofascial or neck pain, symptomatic temporomandibular joint disorders ( TMD ), current orthodontic treatment or the absence of a natural dentition. Material and Methods Jaw‐opening forces were measured with an adjustable rigid extra‐oral device connected to a 1000 N load cell. Seven attempts were recorded, with 10 seconds interval. Median force values were obtained after discarding the first and last attempt. The height and weight of each participant were measured and recorded, alongside age, sex and ethnicity. Results Men had greater maximum opening force median values than women ( P < .001). Median (IQR) values for women were 41.16 N (30.44) and 79.00 N for men (63.86). Jaw‐opening force values were poorly associated with biological and anthropometric parameters. Conclusion In this study, which included a large sample of participants of broad age range and from a demographically diverse background, jaw‐opening force values were greater in males than in females; however, force values were poorly associated with biological and anthropometric parameters. Future studies should explore the potential of this method as a screening tool for TMJ disorders and other conditions.