Study on masticatory movement and its ability: efficacy of a test capsule in the evaluation of masticatory movement

It has been shown that a test capsule originally designed as a simple and reliable aid to evaluate masticatory ability could help to identify the characteristics of chewing loops between individuals in evaluation of masticatory movement, and detect even a slight disorder in the stomatognathic system. In this study, the Sirognathograph(R) Analysing System was used to record and analyse mandibular movement with the test capsule and seven foods. In terms of total examination of the chewing rhythm, the test capsule showed a higher SX/SY ratio of chewing cycle duration (SX: variance between individuals, SY: variance between chewing loops of each person) than those of the comparative foods, excluding chewing gum. The coefficient of variation of the test capsule in the dimensions of the chewing path was lower than those of the comparative foods. Reverse and crossover patterns in chewing gum have been frequently observed in subjects with craniomandibular disorders. Subjects with a low frequency of such patterns in chewing gum tended to have a low frequency with the test capsule as well. Those with a high frequency in chewing gum tended to show such patterns with the test capsule more frequently.