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Effect of mouth opening on bite-force discrimination
W N Williams1, L L La Pointe, C E Cornell
1Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|February 1, 1988
Summary
Mouth opening extent does not significantly impact the ability to discriminate interincisor bite force in healthy adults. This finding suggests jaw position does not alter bite force perception thresholds.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Sensory Physiology
- Dental Science
Background:
- Accurate bite force discrimination is crucial for masticatory function and oral health.
- Understanding factors influencing bite force perception, such as jaw posture, is important for clinical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of varying mouth opening percentages (50%, 70%, 90% of maximum) on the interincisor bite force discrimination ability in healthy subjects.
- To determine if jaw position influences the difference limen (DL) for bite force.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a modified method of constant stimuli with paired comparisons.
- Employed a strain gauge scale for bite force measurement, allowing visual monitoring against preset standards (500 and 1000 gm).
- Assessed 24 healthy adults (12 women, 12 men) across three distinct mouth opening levels.
Main Results:
- Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no statistically significant differences in bite force discrimination ability across the tested mouth opening percentages.
- The difference limen (DL) for bite force remained consistent regardless of whether the mouth was opened to 50%, 70%, or 90% of maximum.
Conclusions:
- The extent of mouth opening does not appear to be a significant factor affecting the ability of healthy individuals to discriminate differences in their interincisor bite force.
- These findings suggest that jaw posture may not play a critical role in the sensory feedback mechanisms underlying bite force perception within the tested range.