Study on masticatory movement and its ability: Efficacy of a test capsule in the evaluation of masticatory movement

It has been shown that a test capsule originally designed as a simple and r eliable aid to evaluate masticatory ability could help to identify the char acteristics of chewing loops between individuals in evaluation of masticato ry movement, and detect even a slight disorder in the stomatognathic system , In this study, the Sirognathograph(R) Analysing System was used to record and analyse mandibular movement with the test capsule and seven foods. In terms of total examination of the chewing rhythm, the test capsule showed a higher SX/SY ratio of chewing cycle duration (SX: variance between individ uals, SY: variance between chewing loops of each person) than those of the comparative foods, excluding chewing gum. The coefficient of variation of t he test capsule in the dimensions of the chewing path was lower than those of the comparative foods. Reverse and crossover patterns in chewing gum hav e been frequently observed in subjects with craniomandibular disorders. Sub jects with a low frequency of such patterns in chewing gum bended to have a low frequency with the test capsule as well. Those with a high frequency i n chewing gum tended to show such patterns with the test capsule more frequ ently.