title: A gnathodynanometer as an objective means of pain assessment following wisdom tooth removal.
abstract: There appears to be no information concerning changes in bite strength following wisdom tooth removal. A gnathodynanometer was constructed, calibrated and then tested on 20 normal subjects. Sixty five patients scheduled for third molar surgery were assessed by this device immediately before operation and on the seventh post-operative day. Post-operatively, they were asked to complete a McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) and indicate their present pain on a numerical rating scale (NRS). Bite strength was reduced in all cases. The side which was most painful tended to have the larger reduction. The reduction in bite strength was found to have a highly significant correlation with the numerical rating scale and a significant correlation with the sensory descriptors of the McGill pain questionnaire. It would appear, therefore, that the gnathodynanometer holds promise as a research tool in oral surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Surgery, University of Leeds.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: High
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Macgregor
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Salkouskis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001732:Bite Force; D002648:Child; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014081:Tooth Extraction