Handgrip force and bite force in dentulous and edentulous individuals

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Dental Science
• Gerontology

Background:

• Limited understanding of bite force (BF) and handgrip force (HF) correlations in diverse female age and dentition groups.
• Need for predictive models of BF based on HF for specific populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• Correlate handgrip force (HF) with bite force (BF) in women of varying ages and dentition status.
• Develop a predictive model for bite force (BF) as a function of handgrip force (HF).

Main Methods:

• Recruited three groups of women: young dentate (n=65), adult dentate (n=67), and edentulous denture users (n=67).
• Measured handgrip force (HF) using a digital dynamometer and bite force (BF) using a digital gnathodynamometer.
• Employed Pearson correlation, multivariate analysis of variance, and simple linear regression to analyze data and develop predictive models.

Main Results:

• All groups exhibited moderate to strong positive correlations between HF and BF (r=0.838 to 0.646).
• Significant differences in BF were observed across groups (Young Dentate > Adult Dentate > Edentulous).
• Edentulous women showed significantly lower HF compared to dentate groups; predictive equations for BF from HF were established.

Conclusions:

• A significant positive correlation exists between handgrip force (HF) and bite force (BF) across all studied groups.
• Handgrip force (HF) serves as a simple, effective predictor of bite force (BF) in healthy women.
• Developed predictive models offer practical applications for estimating bite force (BF) in different female populations.