The Relationship between Oral Manipulative Skill and Masticatory Functions.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between oral manipulative skill and masticatory function. Thirty-six dentate subjects and twenty complete denture wearers were instructed to make their fastest possible movement to bite a small rubber ball 8 mm in diameter repetitively on the right and left posterior teeth by turns. The time for this movement was measured using the Motion Capture System as an index of oral manipulative skill. Masticatory function was evaluated by assessing masticatory performance according to the sieving method. The results were as follows; 1. Among the dentate group, the cycle time of the movement and the masticatory performance of 2 g of peanuts (at 10 and 20 masticatory strokes) were significantly correlated. Furthermore, the cycle time and the masticatory performance of 3 g of peanuts (at 10 masticatory strokes) were also correlated. 2. The cycle time for the complete denture wearer group was significantly longer than that of the dentate group. 3. Among the complete denture wearer group, the cycle time and the masticatory performance of 2 g of peanuts (at 10 and 20 masticatory strokes) were significantly correlated. It is suggested that this index of oral manipulative skill might be related to masticatory function.