Maximum bite force and related dental status in children with deciduous dentition

Six hundred seventy-six Taiwanese children with deciduous dentition were sampled for maximum bite force and related dental status. Sixty-seven percent of children had at least one decayed tooth. The mean number of decayed teeth of all children was 2.97±3.58, and the mean plaque index of the right maxillary central incisor was 2.00±0.75. Twenty-seven percent of children had occlusal anomalies. Boys had a statistically significantly larger maximum bite force than did girls. Children with normal occlusion had statistically significantly larger maximum bite forces than did children with malocclusion. A statistically positive correlation was found between the number of decayed teeth and the plaque index. However, a statistically negative correlation was found between the number of decayed teeth and the maximum bite force and between the plaque index and the maximum bite force.

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