It is very important to develop sound masticatory function in children. In the present study, we evaluated the occlusal contact area, the average bite pressure and the average bite force in intellectually impaired children. We examined occlusal status in 14 intellectually impaired children attending a certain institution (boys 7, girls 7, average age 5.3) as compared with that of 64 children attending a certain kindergarten (boys 34, girls 30, average age 5.6) (control group).
We analyzed the occlusal contact area, the average bite pressure and the degree of bite force in 78 subjects. Subjects were instructed to bite pressure sensitive sheets (DENTAL-PRESCALE®, Fuji Photo Film, Co.) and the results were evaluated by an analyzing computer (OCCLUSER FPD 703®, Fuji Photo Film, Co.). We calculated the asymmetry index (AI) of bite force which was defined as a percentage of the difference in bite force between the left and right sides compared to the sum. We also conducted a questionnaire survey of their parents, and we evaluated a temporomandibular symptom and its occasion or primary cause. We obtained high reproducible data from both groups.
There was no significant difference in bite force between these two groups, but AI in the intellectually impaired children group was significantly larger than that in the control group. The questionnaire survey showed that the number of subjects with bruxism, allergy, and one-sided mastication was significantly larger among the intellectually impaired children than among the controls.
