Variation in function of the masticatory system in 1008 rural children.

The aim on the present study was to investigate the variation in function of the masticatory system in 1008 subjects 5 to 15-years-old in a rural community. This study considered the effects of age, gender, developmental stage of the dentition and interexaminer variability. In addition, maximal opening capacity of the mandible was assessed in relation to age, gender and body size. Four dentists performed the examinations combined with routine check-ups, preventive and operative dental treatments. The results showed that the opening capacity in children increases from the age of 6 to the age of 12 with no difference between the sexes. Children of bigger size seem to have larger opening than the smaller ones. Minor differences were found between the sexes, but some variation with age could be seen in signs of craniomandibular disorders (CMD) and in occlusal recordings. Children with RP-IP slide had more often CMD-signs than the ones without this occlusal feature mainly from the instability of occlusion. This is in accordance with the finding of a higher prevalence of muscle tenderness and mediotrusion interferences during the mixed dentition. In general, in children expression of the craniomandibular disorders seems to reflect physiological changes during development of the dentition and occlusion rather than a pathological condition.