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Masticatory efficiency in individuals with natural dentition.
Swedish Dental Journal
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Masticatory efficiency declines with age and differs between sexes. Factors like age, sex, occluding teeth, and orthodontic needs significantly impact chewing ability, suggesting age-specific analysis is best.
Area of Science:
- Dental Science
- Gerontology
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Masticatory efficiency is crucial for nutrient intake and overall health.
- Age-related changes can affect chewing function.
- Understanding factors influencing mastication is important for oral health assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate masticatory efficiency in healthy adults across different age groups.
- To investigate the influence of sex, occlusal status, and orthodontic needs on chewing ability.
- To determine predictors of masticatory efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Sieving test and subjective questionnaire for masticatory efficiency assessment.
- Occlusal and restorative status evaluation using specific indices.
- Multiple regression analysis to identify predictive factors.
Main Results:
- Masticatory efficiency decreased significantly with increasing age (20-39 vs. 40-60 years).
- Males exhibited higher masticatory efficiency than females.
- Age, sex, number of occluding teeth, and orthodontic treatment need index predicted 50% of masticatory efficiency variance.
Conclusions:
- Masticatory efficiency is influenced by age and sex.
- Age-specific average values are appropriate for describing masticatory efficiency.
- Clinical assessment should consider age, sex, and occlusal status for evaluating chewing function.