engleski

The Influence of Age and Dental Status on the Duration of Chewing Cycles during Mastication

In elderly subjects chewing mechanisms act with some marked differences when compared to young subjects. Moreover, chewing efficiency is considerably reduced when natural teeth have been replaced by complete dentures. The objective of this study was to determine whether the duration of the contractile phase of chewing cycles during mastication is affected by age and dental status. Seventy subjects participated in this study, and they were divided in 3 groups (young dentates, elderly dentates, edentulous subjects). Surface electromyographic (EMG) recordings were obtained from the anterior temporal (T), masseter (M), and depressor muscles (D). Muscle activity was recorded during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), maximal opening (Omax) and during five minutes of mastication. During that period EMG recordings were made once a minute during a period of 10 seconds and the duration of the contractile phase of chewing cycles (the mean of six consecutive cycles) in each minute of mastication was evaluated. The duration of the contractile phase of chewing cycles was shortest in young dentate subjects and longest in denture wearers. It is possible that reduced muscle activity in denture wearers is accompanied by an increase in the mean duration of the contractile phase of chewing cycles for achieving satisfactory mastication.

masticatory muscles; chewing cycle; electromyography

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