Abstract

PROTOCOL FOR THE STUDY OF MASTICATORY FUNCTION

Desislava Konstantinova*, Mariana Dimova and Stefka Titeva

ABSTRACT

The present paper suggests a protocol for the study of masticatory function of a control group of 14 patients with clinically healthy dentition using natural food sample, consisting of 5g of Bulgarian roasted peanuts. Among evaluation criteria applied have been the study time (in seconds), the number of masticatory movements and the triggering of swallow reflex in each patient. The degree of fragmentation has been evaluated based on the particles' size and size distribution by sieve analysis. The optimal mass of chewed food for each fraction has been determined by statistical analysis. The statistically significant results obtained for the particle size, size distribution and average size allow to be used as standards in clinical practice for evaluation and comparative analysis of the masticatory function of patients with healthy as well as prosthetic dentition.

Keywords: study of masticatory function, sieve analysis, particle size, size distribution.