Masticatory efficiency in children with primary dentition.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate masticatory efficiency in children with normal primary occlusion and malocclusion and to correlate efficiency with body variables. METHODS Thirty children were divided into three groups: Group I with normal occlusion (n = 10), Group II with posterior crossbite (n = 10) and Group III with anterior open bite (n = 10). They chewed standardized silicone tablets for 20 strokes and the optical scanning system was used to calculate the particle size (area and perimeter). Results were compared among the groups. Body weight and height were correlated with masticatory efficiency. RESULTS Group I fragmented the tablets into a greater number of particles with smaller sizes than Groups II and III, and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). There was no difference between the children with crossbite and children with open bite. Correlation coefficients between body variables and masticatory efficiency were weak (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Occlusion is a factor of influence on masticatory process.