Abstract
Understanding the intraoral food transport during mastication is important to analyze the formation of a swallowable food bolus, which is the purpose of mastication. Six subjects with normal occlusion or posterior crossbite chewed a silicone rubber impression material, putty type, as a test food to simulate mastication. After chewing, the shape of the silicon was analyzed and the following conclusions regarding intraoral flow were drawn according to the shape of the chewed test food in each occlusal arrangement.
1. During mastication, the test food flowed in the direction of the inner inclines of overlapping cusps of the upper and lower premolars and molars.
2. There are two ways in which the coordinated function of the cheek and tongue carry food onto the occlusal surfaces: sectional mastication, in which sections of food are carried adequately from the lingual side; and whole mastication, in which food is carried in one lump.
3. In normal occlusal contacts, sectional mastication occurs in a smooth way.
4. In posterior cross-bite cases, whole mastication occurs but not smoothly.
