A 1-year intraindividual evaluation of maximum bite force in children wearing a removable partial dental prosthesis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a removable partial dental prosthesis on the bite force in 22 children from 6 to 9 years of age with early loss of primary molars.


METHODS
The dental prosthesis was fabricated with autopolymerized acrylic resin and artificial teeth, retained by clasps made of orthodontic wires. Bite force was determined with a pressurized tube transducer connected to a sensor element. The facial proportions were evaluated on photographs and body variables determined. All evaluations were performed before, 6 months after, and 1 year after the rehabilitation.


RESULTS
No statistical significant difference between genders was found. There was a significant increase in bite force from the first to the second evaluation (302+/-61 N) and (345+/-43 N), but not in the third evaluation (360+/-47 N). Body weight and height increased during the follow-up period. Facial proportions did not correlate with bite force, whereas body height correlated with bite force at the six-month evaluation (r=0.521; P =.007), with a low adjust determination coefficient (24.01%).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings showed that the removable partial dental prosthesis increased the bite force in the first 6 months. This suggested that the prosthesis was adequate to replace the missing posterior primary teeth, with the possibility of improving the masticatory system function.
Serra
Marcia Diaz
MD
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental School of Piracicaba, State University of Campinas (FOP/UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
Gambareli
Flávia Riqueto
FR
Gavião
Maria Beatriz Duarte
MB
D000367:Age Factors; D001732:Bite Force; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D008963:Molar / Q000502:physiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014080:Tooth Exfoliation; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000502:physiology