A novel standard food model to analyze the individual parameters of human mastication

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this project was to develop a standard food model, which can be used not only in experimental settings, but also in clinical diagnosis. On the basis of the findings of a systematic literature search, an elastic food model was created with the aim of standardizing the size and the elastic properties. Three different eatable jellied products were chosen, created by changing the amount of gelatin (260 blooms) related to the total mass of the standard jellied food. The different hardness were classified into soft, medium, and hard, flavored identically, but stained with different colors: soft -green, medium -yellow, hard -red. A cylindrical form was chosen, with a height of 1 cm and a diameter of 2 cm. A standard protocol for analyzing chewing patterns in men was developed.Material and method: A case series of 6 participants (three males, mean age 39, range from 17-51 years; three females, mean age 30, range 17-52) was performed, using the developed standard protocol as described in this article. CADIAX diagnostic was used for the recording of the chewing cycles using a standard paraocclusal clutch, individualized with self-curing temporary material. Working side and nonworking side chewing dynamics were recorded and analyzed. Adverse Event reporting was performed.Results: All participants correctly identified the different hardness of the new jellied elastic standard food model. All participants were able to perform a single-sided mastication on the right and on the left side as well as repeated shifts from one side to the other. The chewed and crushed jellies could be collected after the recording. The chewing cycles were performed in an adequate range because of the size of the standard food model.Conclusion: The newly developed standard food model showed the capability to serve to analyze human mastication in experimental settings. In addition, strength and size of the newly developed standard food model load the masticatory system to an extent that it should be possible to disclose subclinical symptoms of the patient within a short time of examination. The diagnostic procedure of temporo-mandibular disorder (TMD) should be endorsed by the new method. The condylographic data, created by a standardized protocol, should have the ability to enhance the clinical functional analysis of patients previous to restorative dental procedures.

Human mastication

“…In the adult, the working side molars on closing are approaching intercuspal position that from a retrusive, inferior, and lateral position. Molar cusps therefore are heading anterior, superior, and median [20,21,85]. This observation is detectable only in adults, but not in children.…”

“…The use of a standardized model of food in combination with mandibular movement recordings is highly recommended in future studies. Principles of standard model food and standard procedures of chewing recording are described elsewhere [85].…”

“…The minimum distance between the condylar surface and the surface of the articular eminence was found to be smaller on closing than on opening [64]. But, huge interindividual differences of jaw movements, recording with electronic devices, make it difficult to come to a final solution [85][86][87][88]. Furthermore, the exact definition and examination technique of the so-called joint loads are not established and further studies need to be done on that particular subject.…”

“…Mammalian mastication is a process combining simultaneous food comminuting and lubrication [71]. The ability of the stomatognathic system to crush and preprocess food can be related to vital functions of the body and is associated with general health [85].…”

“…Pure hinge movement during mastication is neither seen in adults nor in children. Quality of occlusion has a dramatic impact on mandibular movements during mastication [20,85]. Range, coordination, and fine motor control are jeopardized in situations of [20,22] [45,85] or commercially available chewing gums [40] are used to analyze human mastication, a single type of a typical chewing cycle in adults -as described by Gibbs et al -could not be identified.…”