title: Bite force and maxillofacial morphology in patients with Duchenne-type muscular dystrophy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to evaluate maxillofacial morphology and bite force in patients with severe Duchenne-type myodystrophy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects included 24 men (average age, 21.5 years; range, 17 to 30 years) with Duchenne-type muscular dystrophy receiving treatment in National Ioh Hospital. Lateral and axial cephalograms were used to assess the morphology in this study. The maximum bite force on the first molar and the maximum mouth opening distance were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The anterior open bite was visualized in most patients on the lateral cephalogram. The upper and lower arch lengths in the patients were significantly smaller than those in the controls (P < .05). In contrast, the upper and lower arch widths in the patients were significantly larger than those in the controls (P < .05). The maximum bite force and maximum mouth opening distance in the patients were significantly lower than those in the controls (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results appear to be very useful for improving the care and treatment of patients with Duchenne-type muscular dystrophy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan. kueki@med.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueki
authors.forename: Kiyomasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Etsuhide
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001732:Bite Force; D002508:Cephalometry; D002680:Chin / Q000473:pathology; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000473:pathology; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000473:pathology; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology; D008963:Molar / Q000503:physiopathology; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000473:pathology; D024343:Open Bite / Q000473:pathology; D010159:Palate / Q000473:pathology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000473:pathology; D019291:Skull Base / Q000473:pathology; D014716:Vertical Dimension