[The relationship between masticatory path pattern and masticatory efficiency in gumi-jelly chewing]

This experiment aimed to clarify the relationship between masticatory path pattern and masticatory efficiency in gumi-jelly chewing.

For 65 healthy subjects, the frequency of the masticatory path pattern was investigated. Glucose extraction was measured as an indicator representing the masticatory efficiency and was compared between both patterns. Furthermore, the relationship between path stability and masticatory efficiency was investigated.

As for the frequency of masticatory path pattern, pattern I (opened toward working side and then closed convexly) was the highest, followed in order of decreasing frequency by pattern III (opened toward non-working side initially and later toward working side and then closed convexly), pattern II (similar to pattern I but closed concavely), pattern VII (opening and closing paths crossed each other), pattern IV (similar to pattern III but closed concavely) and pattern V (both opening and closing paths were convex), pattern VI (a reverse pattern of the usual path), and pattern VIII (opening and closing path were a straight line). Regarding the amount of glucose extraction, pattern I was the highest, followed by pattern III, V, II, VII, IV, VI, and pattern VIII. Statistically significant differences were found between pattern I and all the other patterns, between II and III, III and IV, VI, VII, V and VI, VI and VII respectively. As the stability of the pattern increased the masticatory efficiency increased also, and a highly significant correlation was found between the two.

It was concluded that there was a close relation between masticatory efficiency and masticatory path pattern, that pattern I gave the best masticatory function, and that by quantitatively analyzing masticatory path pattern it may be possible to objectively evaluate masticatory function.