Comparative Study of Bite Force Controls in Healthy Dentate Individuals and Complete Denture Wearers

抄録

This study compared the control of bite force in healthy dentate individuals and complete denture wearers. Forty subjects with natural dentition (20 males, 20 females ; mean age 23.7 years) and 17 edentulous subjects wearing well-fitting complete dentures (8 males, 9 females ; mean age 72.6 years) volunteered to participate in this study. Electromyographic activity of the temporalis and masseter muscles (bilaterally) was recorded under maximum voluntary contraction and during both light and strong biting as perceived by subjects. Subjects were also required to record perceived bite force on a visual analog scale. Consequently, visual analog scale assessments of light and strong biting by healthy dentate individuals and complete denture wearers were virtually equal at 20-25 and approximately 75, respectively. However, temporal and masseter muscle activity during light biting was 16.1% maximum voluntary contraction and 10.3% in the healthy dentate group, and 29.1% and 28.2% in the complete denture group. Temporal and masseter muscle activity levels during strong biting were 68.7% and 58.0%, respectively, in the healthy dentate group and 48.6% and 49.7%, respectively, in the complete denture group. Significant intergroup differences were observed between temporal and masseter muscle activity levels during light and strong biting. The study findings revealed a disparity between the two groups in perceived bite force and actual muscle activity, suggesting that compared to healthy dentate individuals, complete denture wearers have a narrow regulatory range and reduced flexibility in controlling bite force.