Abstract
Tooth movement reflects the texture of the food being eaten and gives information on the mastication for foods with different textures. Apparratus for measuring the movement of any tooth during mastication was developed and successfully tested.
Three-dimensional movement of the tooth was deduced from outside the mouth from the change in magnetic field of a small disk magnet fitted on the gum of the tooth being monitored. A Hall prove was used to detect the magnetic field.
Movement of the tooth from the intercuspal position was obtained as a function of time (t, x, y, z) during mastication, where x is horizontal and perpendicular to the row of teeth, y is parallel to the row of teeth, and z is in the up-and-down direction of the teeth or jaw.
The merit of this apparatus is its simplicity and application to any tooth. The apparatus enables the natural action of mastication to be measured, because only the small magnet is needed to fit on the gum of the panelist.
