Masticatory efficiency and bite force in individuals with normal occlusion

Abstract Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate and correlate masticatory efficiency (ME) and maximum bite force (MBF) in adult individuals of both genders with normal occlusion. Design The study was conducted in a university research centre. ME and MBF were evaluated in 55 adults (27 men and 28 women) with normal occlusion. All subjects chewed four fuchsin capsules (two on the right and two on the left molar region) for 15 chewing cycles with a 3-min interval between capsules. The concentration of fuchsin in the capsules was determined by spectrophotometry and stratified by gender and chewing side. Bite force (BF) was measured three times on both the left and right molars; the highest value of the three measurements on each side was taken as the MBF. Results ME was higher in women (right side, 1.17 ± 016 μg/mL; left side, 1.20 ± 0.15 μg/mL) than in men (right side, 0.92 ± 0.24 μg/mL; left side, 0.89 ± 0.24 μg/mL). The MBF was higher in men (right side, 632 ± 174 N; left side, 627 ± 170 N) compared with women (right side, 427 ± 140 N; left side, 420 ± 112 N). No significant differences in chewing efficiency and BF were found between sides for both genders. Conclusions Women showed the highest ME, while men had the highest MBF, with no correlation between these two parameters among genders.