Abstract
Evaluation of masticatory performance is an important objective of orthognathic surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine masticatory performance including masticatory efficiency using chewing gum containing spherical resinous microparticles before and after orthognathic surgery. We evaluated 18 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery for masticatory efficiency (gum chewing), occlusal contact area (silicone bite) and occlusal pressure (pressure-sensitive sheet recording), and masticatory muscle activity (electromyographic evaluation of the masticatory muscles). Examinations were performed immediately before surgery, and 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. No significant difference in masticatory efficiency as a standard degree of comminution was found among any of the chewing sites or examination time points, and the patients showed a variety of changes in masticatory efficiency. Masticatory performance excluding masticatory efficiency was apparent after surgical recovery. These results suggest that masticatory efficiency as a standard degree of comminution varies before and after orthognathic surgery on a patient-to-patient basis.
