[Study of a particle counting method for index of masticatory efficiency]

The present report discusses our new simplified measuring method of masticatory efficiency by counting particles in the matter of making test materials and the standard equation for subjects with normal dentition. 1. Two kinds of hydrocolloid impression materials, reversible and irreversible, were used as the test materials. 2. For evaluating the shape of test materials, 12 subjects with normal dentition were tested and for calculating the standard equation, 108 subjects with normal dentition were tested. 3. Each subject was investigated by the simplified method of counting particles through a sieve system. The number of remaining particles on the mesh was calculated as a masticatory performance. 4. As indicated in a previous report by Dr. Ozawa about cubical test materials, columnar test materials are easier to make than the others and these were avairable for the present particle counting method for investigating masticatory efficiency. 5. We obtained the standard equation for both kinds of test material using 108 subjects with normal dentition. To simplify the measuring method, we selected the standard equation of a 5-mesh sieve with 10 strokes chewing for the index of masticatory efficiency. The standard equation of a 5-mesh sieve for both test materials are as follows; 1) Reversible hydrocolloid test material: Y = -1.605X+29.058 2) Irreversible hydrocolloid test material: Y = -1.116X+23.868 6. 5, 10-mesh sieve with 10 strokes chewing showed the smallest variation in the individual coefficient of variation with both kinds of test material.