Analysis of repeated-measure multicycle unilateral mastication in children

This study examined systematic and random errors associated with repeated-measure, multiple-cycle unilateral mastication in children during single recording sessions with the Replicator system. Twenty-six recording sessions with 17 children (10 boys, 7 girls) were examined. Nine of these children had a functional-shift unilateral crossbite malocclusion and were recorded before and after crossbite correction. Repeated recordings (trials) of mandibular movement during each session were made of right-side chewing of similar-sized pieces of cheese. The following variables were computed for each chewing cycle (stroke): time closed, maximum closure velocity, maximum opening velocity, chewing rate, vertical opening, and lateral deviation. From the multiple cycles of each trial, two pattern descriptors--the average and standard deviation--were determined for each variable. In addition, the mean and variance of these pattern descriptors were determined from the multiple trials of each recording session and were the dependent variables in a stepwise multiple regression analysis, with treatment status, sex, age, dentition stage, crossbite presence, and right side status the independent variables. The results disclosed bias in repeated measures of human chewing in response to adaptation to the recording session; this was evident in the average response but not in the variability of the measures. Sex and functional status of the subjects were associated with the mean and variance of measures describing the chewing pattern.