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Factors associated with masticatory performance among preschool children

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the body mass index (BMI), food consistency, and oral problems on masticatory performance among preschool children.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample composed of 279 children between 3 and 5 years of age allocated to three groups (underweight, ideal weight, and overweight) based on the BMI. Moreover, eating habits, malocclusion, breathing type, masticatory units, and untreated dental caries were investigated. For the evaluation of masticatory performance, the masticatory function test (Optocal) and Rosin-Rammler equation were used for the determination of median size (X50) of shredded food particles for each child. Data analysis involved the description of the frequency of the variables as well as both simple and multiple linear regression analysis.

Results

A larger median participle size was associated with a greater number of cavitated teeth (p < 0.001), greater frequency of the daily ingestion of liquid foods (p = 0.001), and a higher BMI (p < 0001). A greater number of masticatory units (p < 0.001), older age (p = 0.007), and greater frequency of the daily intake of solid foods (p = 0.019) were factors that contributed to a smaller median food particle size.

Conclusion

BMI, number of cavitated teeth, number of masticatory units, child’s age, and food consistency exerted an influence on masticatory performance among preschool children.

Clinical relevance

Mastication is important for craniofacial growth and development. Thus, dentists should know the factors that affect the masticatory performance among children with primary teeth.

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Correspondence to Maria Eliza Consolação Soares.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding

The study received funding from the Brazilian Coordination of Higher Education, Ministry of Education (CAPES), the Research Foundation of the State of Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPQ), Brazil.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Consolação Soares, M.E., Ramos-Jorge, M.L., de Alencar, B.M. et al. Factors associated with masticatory performance among preschool children. Clin Oral Invest 21, 159–166 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-016-1768-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-016-1768-5

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