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The development of jaw motion for mastication
Erin M Wilson1, Jordan R Green
1Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA. emhillman@wisc.edu
Early Human Development
|February 3, 2009
Summary
Early chewing development shows protracted changes in jaw motion and consistency management up to two years. Children under 18 months don't adjust jaw closing speed differently for puree versus solid foods.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric feeding and swallowing
- Developmental motor control
- Craniofacial biomechanics
Background:
- Understanding early chewing is crucial for diagnosing feeding and swallowing disorders in children.
- Limited research exists on the developmental trajectory of mastication in infants and toddlers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively describe age- and food consistency-related changes in jaw kinematics during early chewing development.
- To analyze the development of jaw motion, speed, and consistency management in young children.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 11 typically developing children from 9 to 30 months of age.
- Utilized a 3D optical-motion tracking system to record jaw movements during chewing.
- Assessed jaw kinematics for both puree and regular food consistencies.
Main Results:
- Jaw motion speed and management of food consistency upgrades develop gradually over the first two years.
- Children differentiated jaw closing speeds for puree versus regular consistencies only from 18-24 months.
- Horizontal jaw closing speed decreased with age for purees, but not for regular consistencies.
- A rotary chewing pattern was not observed within the studied age range.
Conclusions:
- Early chewing development, including rotary motion and consistency management, is a prolonged process extending beyond the first year.
- Jaw movement patterns mature significantly between 18-30 months, with distinct adaptations for different food textures.
- Further research is needed to understand the emergence of rotary chewing patterns in later childhood.
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