Two-colour chewing gum mixing ability test for evaluating masticatory performance in children with mixed dentition:...

Area of Science:

• Dental Science
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Traditional masticatory performance tests can be unappealing and time-consuming for children.
• Assessing masticatory performance (MP) in children is crucial for monitoring oral health and development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate and assess the reliability of a two-colour chewing gum mixing ability test for MP assessment in children with mixed dentition.
• To compare the efficacy of the two-colour chewing gum test with a comminution test.

Main Methods:

• Masticatory performance was evaluated in children (n=25) and adults (n=27) using both comminution and two-colour chewing gum tests.
• Validity was assessed via Pearson correlation, and reliability through intra-class correlation coefficient, Pearson correlation, and Bland-Altman plots.

Main Results:

• Both tests showed significant MP differences between children and adults (P < 0.01).
• A significant positive correlation (r=0.418, P=0.002) was found between the comminution and two-colour chewing gum tests.
• High interobserver (r=0.990) and test-retest (r=0.995) reliability was demonstrated for the two-colour chewing gum test.

Conclusions:

• The two-colour chewing gum mixing ability test is a reliable method for assessing masticatory performance in children with mixed dentition.
• This test offers a practical alternative for non-clinical settings due to its high reliability and child-friendly approach.