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A reproducibility method to test lip-closing strength in preschool children
Atsushi Fukami1, Issei Saitoh, Emi Inada
1Division of Oral Health, Growth, and Development, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Dental Sciences.
Cranio : the Journal of Craniomandibular Practice
|November 2, 2010
Summary
A simple button-pulling test reliably measures lip-closing strength in children. This method shows strength increases with age in preschoolers and differs between adult genders, offering clinical potential.
Area of Science:
- Oral physiology
- Pediatric dentistry
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Assessing lip-closing strength is crucial for oral function.
- A simple, reproducible method for pediatric lip-closing strength measurement is needed.
- Existing methods may lack simplicity or applicability in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reproducibility of a button-pulling system for measuring lip-closing strength in preschool children.
- To compare lip-closing strength between preschool children and adults.
- To investigate age and gender-related differences in lip-closing strength.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 348 preschool children and 123 adults.
- Lip-closing strength measured using a digital tension gauge pulling a button from the mouth.
- Three repetitions recorded, analyzed with multilevel statistical models.
Main Results:
- The button-pulling system demonstrated high reproducibility in preschool children.
- Lip-closing strength significantly increased in children aged three to five years (p<0.01).
- Gender differences in strength were observed in adults but not in preschool children.
Conclusions:
- The button-pulling system is a highly reproducible and potentially valuable tool for assessing lip-closing strength in children.
- Findings suggest developmental changes in lip muscle strength during early childhood.
- The method has potential applications in clinical practice and research for evaluating oral motor function.
