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Reliability of a new bite force device for measuring occlusal bite force in healthy dentate subjects
Qareen Fatima Hashmi1, Charlotte Rinderknecht1, Claudio Rodrigues Leles2
1Clinic of General, Special Care, and Geriatric Dentistry, Center for Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Background:
Bite force is a key indicator of masticatory function and oral health. While the GM-10 device is widely used for assessing bite force, its cost and complexity limit its routine clinical use. The Oramo-bf, a newer portable sensor, offers a more accessible alternative; however, it lacks validation against established systems.
Objective:
To assess the validity and reliability of the Oramo-bf device compared to the GM-10 transducer in measuring bite force among healthy adults.
Methods:
Twelve healthy, fully dentate adults (mean age 24.4 ± 3.9 years; 10 females) underwent bite force testing using both the GM-10 (strain-gauge) and Oramo-bf (capacitive) devices. Each participant performed three maximal voluntary bites per device, with standardized positioning and rest intervals. Mean values were computed per device and side. Paired t-tests, Pearson correlation, repeated-measures ANOVA, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to assess differences, consistency, and reliability. A Bland-Altman analysis was used to examine the agreement between the devices.
Results:
Oramo-bf recorded significantly higher bite force values than GM-10 (mean difference = 221.8 N, p = 0.003), with poor correlation between devices (r = 0.255, p = 0.424). Test-retest reliability was excellent for Oramo-bf (ICC = 0.936) and moderate for GM-10 (ICC = 0.698). No significant intra-device variability was observed across repeated trials for either device (Oramo-bf: p = 0.711; GM-10: p = 0.118). The GM-10 exhibited greater within-subject variability. Bland-Altman analysis showed wide limits of agreement and a systematic bias, with GM-10 underestimating bite force relative to Oramo-bf.
Conclusion:
Oramo-bf demonstrates excellent reliability and usability for bite force assessment but shows limited agreement with the GM-10. Further research is needed to evaluate sensor-specific performance and clinical applicability before substituting standard transducers in practice.
Clinical Significance:
Oramo-bf device showed higher reliability compared to GM-10. However, the poor agreement and systematic bias between GM-10 and Oramo-bf suggest that the two devices with different sensor technologies differ significantly in their ability to accurately assess the bite force of dentate subjects.
