title: Assessment of the differences in masticatory behavior between male and female adolescents.
abstract: Chewing behavior may show sex differences; thus, the present study aimed to compare the masticatory aspects and the prediction of masticatory performance between male and female adolescents. Ninety-one healthy subjects (47 girls, 44 boys), caries-free and aged 14-17years, were included. Masticatory performance and maximal bite force were evaluated using a color-changeable chewing gum and digital gnathodynamometer, respectively. Masticatory behavior was assessed by the subjective aspect of the quality of the masticatory function (validated questionnaire) and the Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores expanded (OMES-e) was used to determine chewing time, frequency of chewing cycles and other aspects. Salivary flow rate was also assessed. The physical examination involved measurements of facial morphometry, body weight, height, skeletal muscle mass, and dental/occlusal evaluations. It was observed that boys showed larger facial dimensions, higher bite force and chewing frequency and better masticatory performance than girls. They also showed shorter chewing time, fewer chewing cycles and lower score for OMES-e (that is, more changes in orofacial myofunctional aspects). Bite force showed a weak correlation with skeletal muscle mass only in boys (r=0.3035; p=0.0451). The masticatory performance was dependent on the bite force in boys (Adj R(2)=19.2%; Power=84.1%); among girls, masticatory performance was dependent on the frequency of chewing cycles and masticatory behavior (subjective aspect) (Adj R(2)=34.1%; Power=96.1%). The findings support the existence of sex differences in many masticatory aspects of function and behavior, hence the importance of considering sex differences when evaluating masticatory function and myofunctional therapy outcomes among young subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Av. Limeira, 901, Piracicaba 13414-903, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: kelly_scudine@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Kelly Guedes de Oliveira
authors.initials: KGO
authors.lastname: Scudine
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Av. Limeira, 901, Piracicaba 13414-903, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: alinepedroni@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pedroni-Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Av. Limeira, 901, Piracicaba 13414-903, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: darlle_araujo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Darlle Santos
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Av. Limeira, 901, Piracicaba 13414-903, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: dani.gaprado@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Daniela Galvão de Almeida
authors.initials: DGA
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Av. Limeira, 901, Piracicaba 13414-903, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: anarossi@unicamp.br.
authors.forename: Ana Claudia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). R. São Nicolau, 210, Diadema 09913-030, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: pcastelo@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Paula Midori
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Castelo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000886:Anthropometry; D001732:Bite Force; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D000067074:Peer Influence; D012727:Sex Characteristics
keywords: Adolescent; Mastication; Sex differences