Method: The study included healthy subjects, aged 7-11 years. A thin-film force sensor (Uneotech, Taiwan) was placed between the lower first permanent and second deciduous molars. Simultaneously, a bite force gauge of varying (5-15 mm) height, reading vertical and buccolingual force components, was placed between opposing upper and lower first permanent molars. During a bite, data from the gauge and interdental sensor were recorded simultaneously. The combination gave a three-dimensional representation of the force, allowing variation in force pattern with gauge thickness to be assessed.
Result: Data were obtained for 14 subjects. The ratio of the anterior-to-vertical components of bite force averaged 21.9% (s.d. 16.3%) overall. After square-root transformation to normalize data, a two-way ANOVA was run. This demonstrated no significant effect of bite gauge (F2,39=1.657, p=0.205) or subject on this ratio (F1,13=0.002, p=0.966).
Conclusion: Contrary to previous literature, we found no significant influence of gauge height on the anterior component of bite force. An unexpected advantage of this study is to suggest interdental force recording as a novel method of recording chewing forces. An appreciation of the 3-D pattern of masticatory forces of young children could help understand their jaw bone growth and alleviate dental overcrowding.