title: Comparative evaluation of bite forces in patients after treatment of mandibular fractures with miniplate osteosynthesis and internal locking miniplate osteosynthesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of present study was to compare the stability of fractured mandibular fragments under functional load, when fixed with conventional miniplate and internal locking miniplate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bite force (in kg) recorded in twenty mandible fractured patients and fifty normal healthy individuals. Bite force was measured at incisor and molar regions. Comparative evaluation of bite force generated was performed between 10 cases treated with conventional miniplates and 10 cases treated with internal locking miniplates. Bite force generated by patients in mandibular fracture between symphysis and the angle of mandible was recorded in incisor and molar regions preoperatively. The fracture fragments were fixed using the above fixation techniques. Then same recording was undertaken on the 7(th), 14(th), 21(st), 28(th), and 90(th) days postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bite force generated by patients treated with locking plates at the 7(th), 14(th), 21(st), 28(th), and 90(th) postoperative days was significantly higher as compared to those in patients treated with miniplates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was observed in our study that the locking plate/screw system offers significant advantages over the conventional plating system. There are no intraoperative difficulties associated with placement of the plate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Darshan Dental College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Saurab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: General Dental Practitioner, Vokkaligara Sangha Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Shashank Reddy
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Gattumeedhi
authors.affiliation: Department Oral Pathology, Government Dental College and Hospital, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: Bharat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sankhla
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Jaipur Dental College and Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Akshay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Vasantdada Dental College, Sangli, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Ekta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ingle
authors.affiliation: Editor in chief, Journal of Health Research and Review, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Namrata
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dagli
keywords: Bite force; internal locking miniplates; miniplate