Bite Force and Occlusal Condition in Children Measured During Dental Checkups in Schools

Abstract

The condition of the occlusal contact was investigated on children who were attending nursery schools and elementary schools in Kyoto prefecture (Japan). The Dental Prescale was used for all school children during their dental checkup at their respective schools. The occlusal contact area, occlusal pressure, bite force, and occlusal contacts were measured. Because not all of the children had normal occlusal condition, we established a symmetry index based on the left-right difference in the bite force. This index was then used to place each subject into either an asymmetry or symmetly group. The four measured parameters were compared between the two groups.
In all of the subjects, the contact area tended to increase with the dental stage. Similarly, the occlusal contact tended to increase with Hellman's dental stages IIIA and IIIC. The occlusal pressure remained unchanged. These results suggest a strong relationship between the bite force and the occlusal contact area.
Compared with the symmetry group, the asymmetry group showed lower values (20%-30% lower)for the occlusal contact area, bite force, and occlusal contacts. Both groups showed similar values for occlusal pressure. Symmetry is suggests being an important factor of occlusal.