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Chewing side preferences in children.
S T Mc Donnell1, M P Hector, A Hannigan
1Oral Health and Development, University Dental School and Hospital, Cork, Ireland. s.mcdonnell@ucc.ie
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation
|September 17, 2004
Summary
Most children exhibit a preferred chewing side (PCS), with a strong correlation between dental pain and awareness of this preference. This highlights the link between oral health status and chewing behavior in pediatric populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Oral Health Research
- Masticatory Function
Background:
- Assessing children's preferred chewing side (PCS) is crucial for understanding masticatory patterns.
- Dental caries and pathology can influence oral behaviors.
- Investigating the awareness of PCS in children provides insights into sensory-motor integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of a preferred chewing side (PCS) in children aged 6-8.
- To examine the association between the state of dentition (caries, pathology, pain) and the presence of an observed preferred chewing side (OPCS).
- To evaluate the coincidence between a child's stated PCS and their OPCS, and its relation to dental health status.
Main Methods:
- Clinical and radiographic examination of 57 children's dentition.
- Determining observed preferred chewing side (OPCS) using a gum-chewing test (7 trials).
- Recording children's stated preferred chewing side (PCS) and calculating coincidence with OPCS.
Main Results:
- 77% of children had a PCS; 70% of caries-free children had a PCS (P < 0.05).
- OPCS prevalence ranged from 70% (caries-free) to 92% (caries, pathology, pain).
- No significant association between dentition state and PCS presence, but a significant association between dentition state and PCS coincidence (P=0.02), especially in children experiencing pain (kappa=0.81).
Conclusions:
- A majority of children have a preferred chewing side, irrespective of their dental health.
- Children experiencing dental pain demonstrate a higher coincidence between their perceived and observed chewing sides.
- The findings suggest a potential link between pain and heightened awareness of masticatory lateralization in pediatric patients.