Is the side with the best masticatory performance selected for chewing?

Abstract

Highlights:There is a positive association between the preferred chewing side and the more efficient side Alternate unilateral chewers masticate more efficiently than consistent unilateral chewers.Alternate unilateral chewers can masticate as or more efficiently when they chew unilaterally.Page 2 of 20 Objective: This study assessed the degree of relationship between masticatory laterality and lateral asymmetry of masticatory performance using silicon pieces enclosed in a latex bag.Design: Forty-two young adults with natural dentition participated in this crosssectional, observational study. They performed four different masticatory assays, each consisting of five trials of chewing three pieces of silicon for 20 cycles. In one assay, they were asked to masticate unbagged silicon free-style, whilst in the three other assays they were asked to masticate bagged silicon free-style, unilaterally on the right-hand side and unilaterally on the left-hand side. The preferred chewing side was determined by calculating the asymmetry index for both the free-style assays. Masticatory performance was determined by sieving the silicon particles and the cycle duration was also recorded. Data were analysed using independent samples or paired t-test and linear regression.Results: Masticatory function using the bagged silicon was similar to that using the unbagged silicon. A significant and positive relationship was observed between the preferred chewing side expressed as the asymmetry index and the side with better masticatory performance. Alternate unilateral chewers demonstrated better masticatory performance than unilateral chewers. However, when free-style and unilateral chewing were compared for each subject, unilateral chewing was found to be as efficient as -or even more efficient than -free-style chewing.Page 4 of 20 A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 4 Conclusions: There is a positive association between the preferred chewing side and the more efficient side. Alternate unilateral mastication per se does not promote better masticatory performance than consistently unilateral mastication.

Lack of relationship between masticatory performance and nutritional status in adults with natural dentition

“…It is well known that the majority of people chew more on one particular side, i.e., they have a masticatory laterality (Diernberger, Bernhardt, Schwahn, & Kordass, 2008;Martinez-Gomis et al, 2009; . Although bilateral chewers were observed to chew more efficiently than unilateral chewers (Farias Gomes, Custodio, Moura Jufer, Del Bel Cury, & Rodrigues Garcia, 2010;Rovira-Lastra et al, 2014), no direct relation has been demonstrated (Rovira-Lastra et al, 2014). Chewing rate, defined as the frequency of chewing cycles per unit of time, seems to be remarkably stable within individuals, even across different days and foods (White et al, 2015).…”

“…A test medium known as "bagged silicone" was used for 20 cycles to comminute the pieces (Flores-Orozco, Rovira-Lastra, Willaert, Peraire, & Martinez-Gomis, 2016). Optosil tablets (5 mm thick, 20-mm diameter) were produced as described by Albert, Buschang, & Throckmorton (2003), and cut into quarters, and three quarters of a tablet was placed in a latex bag, which was sealed with cyanoacrylate adhesive (Rovira-Lastra et al, 2014). The masticatory assay was repeated four more times, and the particles from the five assays were collected to evaluate the masticatory performance.…”

“…Masticatory performance can be determined by quantifying the degree of fragmentation of a test food after a fixed number of chewing cycles (Lujan-Climent et al, 2008;Van der Bilt & Fontijn-Tekamp, 2004). Dental silicone is considered the more appropriate test food (Edlund & Lamm, 1980), and silicon pieces placed in a latex bag have been demonstrated to be a reliable method for assessing masticatory function in dentate young adults with natural dentition (Rovira-Lastra, Flores-Orozco, Salsench, Peraire, & Martinez-Gomis, 2014). It is well known that the majority of people chew more on one particular side, i.e., they have a masticatory laterality (Diernberger, Bernhardt, Schwahn, & Kordass, 2008;Martinez-Gomis et al, 2009; .…”

Changes in masticatory laterality 3 months after treatment with unilateral implant‐supported fixed partial prosthesis

“…Several functional or postural lateral preferences have been related to masticatory laterality, though peripheral factors seem to be more closely related to the PCS . The side with more occluding teeth, more severe occlusal wear, higher bite force and better masticatory performance is more frequently chosen for chewing . While two studies found that individuals with missing unilateral posterior teeth or with asymmetric shortened dental arches tended to chew more unilaterally than healthy dentate individuals, another study reported similar distributions of chewing side preference in patients missing teeth on the right side, on the left side and in both sides .…”

“…Masticatory laterality can be defined as a functional asymmetry appearing when one side is preferred over the other side for chewing and can be assessed quantitatively by an asymmetry index . Among the objective methods, the use of bagged silicone to assess either the first cycle or all cycles has shown a high level of reproducibility and validity . Furthermore, the use of a visual analogue scale (VAS) is a valid and reliable method for assessing the degree of subjective masticatory laterality …”