title: Bite force measurements with hard and soft bite surfaces.
abstract: Bite force has been measured by different methods and over a wide variety of designs. In several instruments, the fact that bite surface has been manufactured with stiff materials might interfere in obtaining reliable data, by a more prompt activation of inhibitory reflex mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to compare the maximum voluntary bite force measured by a digital occlusal force gauge (GM10 Nagano Keiki, Japan) between different opponent teeth, employing semi-hard or soft bite surfaces. A sample of 34 young adults with complete natural dentition was studied. The original semi-hard bite surface was exchanged by a soft one, made of leather and rubber. Maximum voluntary bite force recordings were made for each tooth group and for both bite surfaces. Statistical analyses (Student's t-test) revealed significant differences, with higher scores while using the soft surface across sexes and tooth groups (P < 0·05). Differential activation of periodontal mechanoreceptors of a specific tooth group is mainly conditioned by the hardness of the bite surface; a soft surface induces greater activation of elevator musculature, while a hard one induces inhibition more promptly. Thus, soft bite surfaces are recommended for higher reliability in maximum voluntary bite force recordings.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Manns
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001732:Bite Force; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: GM10 bite force meter; bite force; dental occlusion; hardness; occlusal force