Comparative evaluation of maximum bite force in dentulous and edentulous individuals with different facial forms.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mean maximum bite force in dentulous and edentulous individuals with Angle's class-I occlusion and to assess the effect of different facial forms such as Square, Square-tapering, tapering and ovoid on the biting force. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study consisted of 160 subjects in total. Out of these 160, 80 were dentulous subjects and remaining 80 were edentulous subjects who had received treatment for his/her missing teeth by fabrication of a complete denture. The mean maximum voluntary bite force for every subject was measured using bite force measuring device,(Process indicator 3016). Face form was divided under square, tapering, square-tapering or oval types. The shape of the face was determined using digital photographs. The effect of edentulism, gender and face form on bite force was statistically analyzed using ANOVA, Scheffe and Sample t-tests. RESULT Mean maximum bite force and standard deviation (S.D.) in the dentulous sample population was 41.3(13.9) kilograms (kg) which when compared with the edentulous sample population provided highly significant statistical result. The mean maximum biting force in edentulous sample population was 4.43 (2.4) kg (p<0.001). In both dentulous and edentulous categories, the mean maximum bite force was statistically higher in male patients than female patients. Mean maximum bite force was significantly higher in patients with square facial form than in subjects with other facial forms. CONCLUSION Square face form contributes to higher bite force values by obtaining higher Mechanical advantage from muscles of mastication. RESULT also proved that patients with complete denture with any facial form have much lower mean maximum bite force when compared to dentate subjects.