1996 Volume 42 Issue 6 Pages 566-580
This study was designed to investigate masticatory disturbances in patients with occupational maxillofacial injuries. During the 3 -year 3 -month period from April 1992 through June 1995, 51 patients were examined on the basis of (1) dental findings, (2) mandibular mobility, (3) electromyograms (EMG), (4) occlusal findings by Dental Prescale®, and (5) masticatory efficiency rate calculated from the results of a questionnaire that assessed the ability to chew 173 foods.
The following results were obtained:
1. Masticatory efficiency rate could be estimated on the basis of occlusal variables assessed with Dental Prescale®. The most important occlusal variable with this method was maximal force.
2. At a value of 40% or more, masticatory efficiency rate was correlated with dental findings and mandibular mobility.
3. In this same group of patients, masticatory efficiency rate was correlated with electromyographic findings (silent period rate, etc.).
4. Variables of the occlusion evaluated with Dental Prescale® were positively correlated with masticatory efficiency rate.
5. In patients with a masticatory efficiency rate of 40% or more, masticatory disturbances could be generally estimated from masticatory efficiency rate.
6. Many patients with a masticatory efficiency rate of less than 40% had lack of consistency between objective and subjective findings. Masticatory disturbances could therefore not be evaluated correctly by analyzing items (1) to (5) in this group of patients.