title: Normative values for mandibular mobility in Scandinavian individuals 4-17 years of age.
abstract: Assessment of mandibular mobility is an important part of the clinical oro-facial examination of paediatric and adolescent patients. The aims of the present cross-sectional study were to establish age-related normative values for mandibular mobility in a Scandinavian paediatric and adolescent cohort and to assess the validity of universal cut-off values for lower 'normal' mandibular ranges of motion. A total of 1114 Danish individuals between 4-17 years of age were included. Maximal mouth opening capacity and laterotrusion capacity were assessed, in each individual, according to a standardised measurement protocol. The mean maximal mouth opening capacity gradually increased from 38 mm (SD 6·1 mm) at age 4 to 54·5 mm (SD 6·8 mm) at age 17. No inter-gender difference in maximal mouth opening capacity was observed (P > 0·15). The mean maximal laterotrusion capacity gradually increased from 7·4 mm (SD. 1·1 mm) at age four to 10·1 mm (SD 1·9 mm) at age 17. A statistical significant inter-gender difference of 0·8 mm (SD 0·4 mm) was observed in relation to the total laterotrusion capacity; however, the clinical relevance of this significant difference is questionable. Normative values of mandibular function was established in individuals 4-17 years of age. Our findings oppose the use of a single universal cut-off value for 'normal' range of motion in paediatric and adolescent patients. Instead, we recommend to use the age-related normative values of mandibular range of motion as basis for the assessment of the development of oro-facial function.
authors.affiliation: Section of Orthodontics, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stoustrup
authors.affiliation: Section of Orthodontics, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.|Specialist Oral Health Center for Western Norway, Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.affiliation: Section of Orthodontics, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.|Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Küseler
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, Denmark.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Herlin
authors.affiliation: Section of Orthodontics, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.|Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007574:Jaw Relation Record; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D044465:White People
keywords: laterotrusion; mandibular mobility; mouth opening; normative values