Comparison of masticatory performance and tongue pressure between children and young adults

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to evaluate whether there are significant differences in masticatory performance by gender and dental stage. We also determined the factors directly associated with the masticatory performance in children, and those directly associated with masticatory performance in young adults. The study included 180 subjects, ranging in age from 6 to 12 years or 20 to 33 years. The subjects were divided into three groups according to the Hellman developmental stage (III A, III B, or VA); the groups were the subdivided according to gender. The body mass index (BMI), maximum tongue pressure, and sum of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) were determined in all subjects. To investigate masticatory performance, the total number and maximum projected area of chewed particles of the jelly materials were measured. Masticatory performance had the highest values at Stage VA in both males and females. Regarding the maximum tongue pressure in females, Stage III B had the highest value of all stages. Multiple regression analysis showed that masticatory performance was associated with DMFT index, maximum tongue pressure, and BMI in children. Among young adults, masticatory performance was associated with DMFT index and maximum tongue pressure. Better masticatory performance is directly associated with better dental status, a higher BMI, and tongue pressure in schoolchildren. Additionally, masticatory performance was well‐correlated with tongue pressure in young adults, although maximum tongue pressure reached its peak before Stage VA in females. We suggest that females need training with respect to tongue pressure, by the mixed dentition stage.

Tongue pressure distribution of individual normal occlusions and exploration of related factors

“…Our study found there was a positive correlation between duration of swallowing saliva at posterior tongue and weight as well as BMI, similar to the result of Fujita et al and Ichikawa et al . The former found better masticatory performance is directly associated with a higher BMI.…”

Association of feeding behavior with jaw bone metabolism and tongue pressure

“…Between 2 and 4 years, functionally balanced mature swallowing prevails; however, the tongue thrust, which is part of the infantile swallowing pattern, may be found in children older than 4 years, and even sometimes in adolescents and adults [48] . In several studies, maximum tongue pressure was directly associated with masticatory performance among children aged 6–12 years [27] , [49] . In addition, tongue pressure and masticatory performance were also positively correlated in young adults [18] , [49] .…”

“…In several studies, maximum tongue pressure was directly associated with masticatory performance among children aged 6–12 years [27] , [49] . In addition, tongue pressure and masticatory performance were also positively correlated in young adults [18] , [49] . These data suggest that the development of masticatory performance is closely associated with an increase in tongue pressure.…”

“…3 C). The pressure was measured (in kilopascals) using a digital voltmeter attached to the tongue pressure manometer [18] , [27] , [49] , [50] , [51] . A recent study reported that the maximum tongue pressure increased with age (although there were some vertical variations) in 6–12-year-old children [27] .…”

Relationship between oral function and mandibular anterior crowding in early mixed dentition

“…The results of a pilot study suggested that the mean value of maximum tongue pressure among children with early mixed dentition is approximately 30 kPa (Fujita, Ichikawa, Hamaguchi, & Maki, 2018).…”