Abstract
It is very important to know how the masticatory function develops in children.
The bite pressure detecting film 'DENTAL-PRESCALE' and its analyzing system 'OCCLUZER' have been developed by Fuji Photo Film CO., LTD., Japan. DENTAL-PRESCALE is U-figured in three sizes and fits in with different periods of dentition. OCCLUZER can analyze the occlusal contact area, the maximum bite pressure, the average bite pressure and the degree of bite force. The purpose of this paper was to examine the reproducibility of the occlusal contact area and the degree of bite force in children with the use of DENTAL-PRESCALE.
A total of 175 DENTAL-PRESCALE films in 63 subjects were obtained and analyzed by the OCCLUZER. The coefficient of variation (c. v. ) among the measurements of the same material was about 3% in both the occlusal contact area and the bite force. The c. v. among the materials of the same subject was about 13% in both of them. Thus the reproducibility of DENTAL-PRESCALE revealed in this study indicates that this is a very useful material to examine the masticatory function in children.
