title: Comparative cross-sectional study of masticatory performance and mastication predominance for patients with missing posterior teeth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Missing posterior teeth can decrease masticatory function and cause horizontal mastication deviation, i.e., mastication predominance. Mastication predominance may lead to abnormal tooth attrition and temporomandibular disorders. This study evaluated masticatory performance and mastication predominance in patients with missing posterior teeth to investigate effects of missing posterior teeth on masticatory performance and mastication predominance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty volunteers with normal dentition (control group), 30 patients with unilateral missing posterior teeth (unilateral group), and 23 patients with bilateral missing posterior teeth (bilateral group) participated. Gummy jellies were used to evaluate participants' masticatory performance, and electromyography was used to assess the degree of mastication predominance. Chewing gums, gummy jellies, and peanuts were used as foods of various hardnesses for evaluating mastication predominance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, masticatory performance did not differ in the unilateral group but was significantly decreased in the bilateral group. With chewing gum and gummy jellies, the degree of mastication predominance was significantly increased in both unilateral and bilateral groups than the control group. With peanuts, the degree of mastication predominance was significantly increased in the unilateral group than the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although masticatory performance was not decreased in the unilateral group, the degree of mastication predominance was increased. Decreased masticatory performance was observed in the bilateral group, and for foods with normal hardness and soft foods, the degree of mastication predominance was increased. These results suggested that mastication predominance should be considered in the recovery of masticatory performance in patients with missing posterior teeth.
authors.affiliation: Section of Implant and Rehabilitative Dentistry, Division of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Japan.
authors.forename: Hayato
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwashita
authors.affiliation: Section of Implant and Rehabilitative Dentistry, Division of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Japan. Electronic address: tsukiyama.yoshihiro.758@m.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsukiyama
authors.affiliation: Section of Implant and Rehabilitative Dentistry, Division of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidehiro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kori
authors.affiliation: Section of Implant and Rehabilitative Dentistry, Division of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Japan.
authors.forename: Rika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuwatsuru
authors.affiliation: Section of Implant and Rehabilitative Dentistry, Division of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Japan.
authors.forename: Yo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.affiliation: Section of Implant and Rehabilitative Dentistry, Division of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koyano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013284:Stomatognathic System / Q000503:physiopathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Electromyogram; Glucose extraction; Mastication predominance; Masticatory performance; Missing posterior teeth