title: Differences in bite force between dolichofacial and brachyfacial individuals: Side of mastication, gender, weight and height.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Due to the bite force importance in functionality of the masticatory system, this study aimed to characterize it in dolichofacial and brachyfacial individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample comprised by 190 patients was divided into two groups: 90 severe dolichofacial, and 100 severe brachyfacial individuals classified according to the VERT index and the face height ratio (Jarabak quotient). Bite force was measured by using an adjusted digital dynamometer and proper methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample met the parametric assumptions and presented statistical significance when right and left sides of dolichofacial and brachyfacial individuals were compared. However, within the same group, no differences between the left and right sides were found. Generally, bite force was higher for male, left masticator, age between 41-50 years, weighing over 100kg and between 1.81 and 1.90m tall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results of this cross-sectional study, it was possible to conclude that the bite force in severe brachyfacial individuals was significantly higher than in severe dolichofacial individuals, being influenced by gender, weight and height.
authors.affiliation: Department of TMD and Orofacial Pain, Dental Research Institute, Sao Leopoldo Mandic, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Quiudini
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Experimental, Faculdade de Medicina/Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação da Universidade do Porto and I3s, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: dhpozza@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Daniel Humberto
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Pozza
authors.affiliation: Children's Clinic Department, Araraquara Dental School of Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Ary Dos Santos
authors.initials: ADS
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Mestrado em Bases Gerais da Cirurgia FMB-UNESP, Departamento de Ciências da Saúde do IMES-Instituto Municipal de Ensino Superior de Catanduva, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mauricio Ferraz
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: de Arruda
authors.affiliation: Department of TMD and Orofacial Pain, Dental Research Institute, Sao Leopoldo Mandic, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Sergio
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Guimarães
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001732:Bite Force; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014716:Vertical Dimension; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bite force; Facial pattern; Facial type