The effect of maximum bite force on alveolar bone morphology.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate to what extent maximum bite force contributes to alveolar bone morphology parameters, i.e. alveolar thickness, shape and arch width.


METHODS
An observational cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty one 12- to 14-year-old students from a secondary school in Hatyai City, Songkhla Province, Thailand.


METHODS
Height, weight and maximum bite force of each subject were recorded. Alveolar bone morphology parameters were measured from study models.


RESULTS
Maximum bite force moderately correlated with alveolar thickness and shape (r = 0.31-0.44, p < 0.001), but weakly correlated with arch width (r = 0.03-0.05, p > 0.05). After adjusting for gender and body mass index (BMI), the maximum bite force significantly determined alveolar thickness and shape (p < 0.001), accounting for 10-20% of the variations. Boys were associated with larger posterior arch width (p < 0.01), where BMI was not associated with alveolar bone morphology parameters (p > 0.01) after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing.


CONCLUSIONS
Maximum bite force had a selective influence on alveolar thickness and shape, but not on arch width.
Thongudomporn
U
U
Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Songkhla, Thailand. udom.t@psu.ac.th
Chongsuvivatwong
V
V
Geater
A F
AF
D000293:Adolescent; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001732:Bite Force; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013785:Thailand; D014716:Vertical Dimension