IADR Abstract Archives
Relationship Between Bolus Size and Masticatory Performance in Children
Objectives: The relationship between bolus size and masticatory performance has been described in adults, but not in children. The objective is to study the relationship between bolus size and masticatory performance in 8 to 10 year old children.
Methods: A randomized cross-over clinical trial was undertaken in 27 eight to ten year old children. The study was performed with informed consent and ethical approval. The artificial test food used was made of a condensation silicone (Optosil Comfort®) following a standardized protocol. Two bolus sizes (three or four quarters of a 20mm in diameter, 5mm thick tablet) were randomized to avoid an order effect and performed in different sessions. Variables studied were: number of cycles until swallowing threshold, medium particle size as a measure of masticatory performance (of the chewed test food), sequence and cycle duration as well as cycles per weight. Comparisons were performed with paired T and Wilcoxon tests. Cutoff for statistical significance was set at .10.
Results: Statistically significant differences were found for medium particle size (2.71±1.01mm with three quarters and 2.91±0.91mm with four, p=0.096) and number of cycles per weight (28.72±12 cycles per gram with three quarters and 21.7±8.9 with four, p=.000) but not for number of cycles until swallowing threshold, nor sequence or cycle duration.
Conclusions: In children, as in adults, chewing on a bigger bolus size leads to a lower masticatory performance. When chewing on a smaller bolus the number of cycles per weight increases.
Methods: A randomized cross-over clinical trial was undertaken in 27 eight to ten year old children. The study was performed with informed consent and ethical approval. The artificial test food used was made of a condensation silicone (Optosil Comfort®) following a standardized protocol. Two bolus sizes (three or four quarters of a 20mm in diameter, 5mm thick tablet) were randomized to avoid an order effect and performed in different sessions. Variables studied were: number of cycles until swallowing threshold, medium particle size as a measure of masticatory performance (of the chewed test food), sequence and cycle duration as well as cycles per weight. Comparisons were performed with paired T and Wilcoxon tests. Cutoff for statistical significance was set at .10.
Results: Statistically significant differences were found for medium particle size (2.71±1.01mm with three quarters and 2.91±0.91mm with four, p=0.096) and number of cycles per weight (28.72±12 cycles per gram with three quarters and 21.7±8.9 with four, p=.000) but not for number of cycles until swallowing threshold, nor sequence or cycle duration.
Conclusions: In children, as in adults, chewing on a bigger bolus size leads to a lower masticatory performance. When chewing on a smaller bolus the number of cycles per weight increases.
