Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the maximum velocity of the mouth closing phase on the occlusal sound.
Six subjects examined were divided into two groups (children and young adults). Occlusal sounds generated by the tooth tapping were obtained with in microelectronic condencer microphone placed on infra-orbital and external auditory canal. Three parameters were used for the measuring points such as 1) maximum velocity of the closing phase,2) maximum amplitude of the occlusal sound,3) duration of the occlusal sound.
The results obtained in the present study were as follows:
1) The waveform of occlusal sounds obtained from infra-oribtal showed more clearly than that obtained from the external auditory canal.
2) With increasing velocity, both the values of maximum amplitude and duration showed a tendency to increase in both groups.
3) The prolonging of the duration was apparent in the children. The results obtained in the study suggest that the analysis of the occlusal sounds generated by tooth tapping can apply to aid in the functional diagnosis of occlusion in children.
