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Is the side with the best masticatory performance selected for chewing?
Bernat Rovira-Lastra1, Elan Ignacio Flores-Orozco2, Juan Salsench1
1Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Archives of Oral Biology
|September 1, 2014
Summary
Your preferred chewing side strongly correlates with your most effective chewing side. Consistently chewing on one side is as effective as alternating sides for masticatory performance.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Dental Science
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Masticatory laterality, the preference for chewing on one side, is a key aspect of oral motor behavior.
- Understanding the relationship between chewing laterality and masticatory performance is crucial for assessing oral function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between masticatory laterality and lateral asymmetry of masticatory performance.
- To compare masticatory performance between free-style, unilateral, and alternate unilateral chewing strategies.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 42 young adults with natural dentition.
- Masticatory performance was assessed using silicon pieces, measuring particle size and chewing cycle duration.
- Subjects performed free-style, right unilateral, and left unilateral chewing assays with bagged and unbagged silicon.
Main Results:
- Masticatory function was comparable between bagged and unbagged silicon.
- A significant positive relationship was found between the preferred chewing side and the side exhibiting better masticatory performance.
- Unilateral chewing demonstrated equal or greater efficiency compared to free-style chewing.
Conclusions:
- A direct association exists between the preferred chewing side and the side with superior masticatory efficiency.
- Alternate unilateral mastication does not inherently offer superior masticatory performance compared to consistent unilateral chewing.
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