Intra- and inter-examiner reliability of an occlusal force-measuring device equipped with a capacitive-type...

To clarify the intra- and inter-examiner reliability of an occlusal force-measuring device equipped with a capacitive-type pressure-mapping sensor sheet in older adults.

Thirty-eight individuals (23 women) aged ≥65 (mean ± SD: 79.3±6.1) years were included. The numbers of present and functional teeth were visually examined. Occlusal force was measured using the Oramo-bf device (Sumitomo Riko Co., Aichi, Japan). To evaluate intra-examiner reliability, one dentist measured each participant's occlusal force thrice and calculated the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC; case 1) and the coefficient of variation (CV). To examine inter-examiner reliability, three dentists measured the occlusal force once per participant and calculated the ICC case 2.

The median (first quartile-third quartile [Q1-Q3]) numbers of present and functional teeth were 22.5 (18-27) and 28 (26-28), respectively. The median (Q1-Q3) occlusal force measured by a single examiner across the measurements was 604.8 (261.7-731.5) N. The ICC for a single measurement by one examiner based on all three measurements per participant was 0.982 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.969-0.990). The ICC (1,3) for the mean of three repeated measurements by one examiner was 0.994 (95% CI: 0.990-0.997). The mean ± SD CV was 0.052 ± 0.046. The ICC (2,1) for inter-examiner reliability was 0.950 (95% CI: 0.917-0.972).

This study revealed high intra- and inter-examiner reliability of measurements obtained using an occlusal force-measuring device equipped with a capacitive-type pressure-mapping sensor sheet. This device may provide reliable results with a single measurement, regardless of the examiner.