title: Prevalence of chewing side preference in the deciduous, mixed and permanent dentitions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the prevalence of the chewing side preference (CSP) in the deciduous, mixed and permanent dentitions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-hundred subjects were divided in three groups (n = 100): Group 1 - children with deciduous dentition; group 2-children with mixed dentition; group 3 - subjects with permanent dentition. The CSP was determined using a direct method (visual observation) developed by McDonnell et al. (2004). Descriptive statistic was used to observe the prevalence of CSP. The Pearson's Chi-square was used to investigate signicant associations between gender, presence of CSP and preferred side (right/left).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eighty-seven percent of group 1 had a CSP. Eighty-two percent of group 2 had a CSP. Seventy-six percent of group 3 had a CSP. There was no statistically significant association between presence of CSP and gender in all groups. There was no statistically significant association between preferred side (right/left) and gender in all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a higher prevalence of subjects in deciduous, mixed and permanent dentition that presented chewing side preference. The early diagnosis of the presence of chewing side preference can prevent the unilateral chewing pattern with prophylactic therapy applied to the first teeth (deciduous).
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, São José dos Campos School of Dentistry, São Paulo State University, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daphne Camara
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Barcellos
authors.forename: Sergio Eduardo de Paiva
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Melissa Aline
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Graziela Ribeiro
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.forename: Patricia Rondon
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Pleffken
authors.forename: Cesar Rogerio
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Pucci
authors.forename: Alessandra Buhler
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rocha Gomes Torres
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002638:Chewing Gum; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002638:Chewing Gum