title: [Dissertations 25 years after date 19. Children with a lateral forced bite].
abstract: Premature occlusal contacts may force the mandible into a not optimally functional intercuspal position, a so-called forced bite. When the mandible is forced laterally, it is called a lateral forced bite, more prevalent in children than in adults. In the PhD thesis (1983) 'Mandibular movement patterns: a methodological and clinical investigation of children with a lateral forced bite', open-close-clench cycles had been studied in 12 children with a lateral forced bite and in a control group of 6 children. Their mandibular movements were registered using an opto-electronic registration technique. Only in the children with a lateral forced bite, the mandible appeared to be displaced laterally into the direction of the forced bite side both during cycle series into intercuspal position and, although to a lesser extent, when occlusal contact was eliminated using flat occlusal splints. Apparently, in children with a lateral forced bite the neuromuscular co-ordination of the temporomandibular joint is disturbed. Subsequent research projects demonstrated similar findings. Consequently, a lateral forced bite in children should be eliminated as early as possible, in order to enable normal growth and development of the stomatognathic system.
authors.affiliation: coham@euronet.nl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamerling
mesh_terms: D001732:Bite Force; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D007574:Jaw Relation Record; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009068:Movement; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D013165:Splints; D014716:Vertical Dimension