臺中市忠孝國小混合齒列期學童咬合力之變化及相關影響因素之探討: The changes of bite force and associated influencing factors of the taichung chung hsiao elementary schoolchildren in the mixed dentition

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to study the changes of the bite force and associatedinfluencing factors in the mixed dentition stage students.Methods:471 children(207 girls and 264 boys)of Taichung Chung Hsiao elementary schoolchildren,aged between 9 and 12 years,were chosen for this study.The investigations included bodyheight and body weight,maximal mandibular opening,maximal mandibular anterior and lateralmovement,maximal bite force of the first molar,and the grip forces of both hands.A questionnairewas designed to investigate temporomandibular joint and muscle pain-dysfunction syndrome andfood preferences.Statistical t-tests were used to compare the differences in bite force and maximalmandibular opening between boys and girls in each dental age.Spearman rank order correlation(rho)was used to test the correlation among measurements.Results:The results showed that 1)The bite force decreased in the late stage of mixed dentitionstage;2)The mean value of the maximal mandibular opening increased with age,but the maximalmandibular anterior and lateral movement did not;3)The incidence of temporomandibular joint andmuscle-pain dysfunction syndrome increased with age;4)The distributions of subjects who likedsoft foods tended to decrease with age;5)The bite forces had positive correlations with body height,maximal opening,and grip force.Conclusions:The changes of dentition influenced the maximal bite force in the mixed dentitionstage.The mean value of bite force decreased in the late mixed dentition and increased after secondmolar eruption.(Taiwan J Pediatr Dent 3(4):165-170,2003)