Abstract
The aims of the current study were as following: (1) to evaluate the maximal bite forces in patients with dental implants versus patients without dental implants, as measured by a digital bite force transducer (GM10); (2) to evaluate the influences of sex, age, and sleep/awake bruxism on the maximal bite forces of the two groups. Forty patients recruited to the study were divided into two groups: test group (“implant”) if they had one or more posterior restored implants and control group (“no-implant”) without the presence of posterior dental implants. A digital bite fork (GM10) was used to measure the bite forces from three posterior occluding pairs in all participants. Differences in the mean values between the test and control groups and between different sexes were evaluated using one-way and two-way ANOVA tests. A cross-tabulation analysis was conducted to identify a trend line between the groups. There was no significant difference in the maximal bite force between the test and control groups (p = 0.422), but the cross-tabulation analysis revealed a clear trend of a stronger representation of the “no-implant” group at higher occlusal forces. A significant difference was detected between the maximal biting forces of male and female subjects (p = 0.030 in the implant group, p = 0.010 in the no-implant group), regardless of the experimental group. The presence of bruxism and clenching did not influence the bite force values (p = 0.953), and a significant difference was not found between the age groups (p = 0.393). Within the limitations of this study, it may be assumed that there was no significant difference between the maximal bite forces between patients with and without dental implants but that there was a trend line implicating a stronger representation of the “no-implant” group at higher forces. In addition, the results revealed a significant sex-related difference in the maximal occlusal force. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted.
Highlights
The null hypotheses are as follows: (1) no difference in the bite force applied to patients with or without dental implants was observed; (2) the maximal bite forces of the two groups were not affected by sex, age, and sleep/awake bruxism
Our null hypotheses were that there was no difference in the bite force in patients with or without dental implants and that the maximal bite forces of the two groups were not affected by sex, age, and sleep/awake bruxsim
Within the limitations of this clinical pilot study, it may be assumed that there was no significant difference between the maximal bite force measured in patients with and without dental implants, but there was a trend line implicating a stronger representation of the “no implant” group in the higher strata of force results
Summary
Bite force results from the action of the jaw elevator muscles, as modified by jaw biomechanics and reflex mechanisms, and may vary widely in magnitude and direction [1]. The determination of bite force is considered an important parameter in assessing the function and efficacy of dental prostheses and orthodontic treatments and in studying the effect of deformities and pathologies, such as malocclusion and over loading, on the masticatory system [2]. During mastication, loading forces are created by masticatory muscles. The mechanoreceptors of the periodontal ligament control these muscles, and reduced periodontal support may influence their threshold level [3]
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