[Changes in mastication efficiency before and after orthodontic treatment of adult skeletal angle III malocclusion].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the changes of mastication efficiency pre- and post-treatment in adult skeletal Angle III malocclusion, and to analyze the effect of malocclusion on mastication efficiency.


METHODS
Masticatory efficiency was analyzed in 60 patients with adult skeletal Angle III malocclusion pre- or post-orthodontic treatment and 30 adults with normal occlusion as controls. Masticatory efficiency was measured by means of a spectrophotometer using Gelatin. SPSS 10.0 software package was used for Student's t test and step-wise regression.


RESULTS
(1) Significant difference of masticatory efficiency was found among the three groups (P < 0.001). Multiple comparision showed significant difference among pre-treatment group, post-treatment group and normal controls (P < 0.05). (2) Step-wise regression results suggest that overjet and mandibular prognathism were closely related to masticatory efficiency in both pre- and post-treatment group.


CONCLUSIONS
Orthodontic therapy can improve masticatory function in patients with malocclusion.
Yang
Qian
Q
Department of Orthodontics, College of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdal 266003, Shandong Province, China.
Fan
Cun-hui
CH
Liu
Xin-qiang
XQ
Chen
Jie
J
D000328:Adult; D065187:Controlled Before-After Studies; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008409:Mastication; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective