Evaluation of masticatory performance after orthodontic treatment in Angle Class I crowding cases

Abstract

We investigated changes in masticatory performance during retention in Angle Class I crowding cases. The color-changeable chewing gum method was used to investigate masticatiory performance at four stages during treatment : debonding, and 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. The color of the chewing gum was measured and transformed using the CIE-LAB coloring system. The values of a* were evaluated at each stage.
     We found that masticatiory performance increased up to 3 months after retention, but did not change after that.
     These results indicate that masticatory performance is stable at 3 months after retention in adult crowding cases.