Levrini Luca, Bocchieri Salvatore, Mauceri Federico, Saran Stefano, Carganico Andrea, Zecca Piero Antonio, Segù Marzia
Department of Human Sciences and Innovation for the Territory, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.
Dent J (Basel). 2023 Mar 1;11(3):68. doi: 10.3390/dj11030068.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the masticatory function of subjects with clear aligners and to propose a simple and repeatable method for the clinical and experimental evaluation of masticatory function. For the testing we used almonds, a natural substance that can be easily found and stored, has intermediate consistency and hardness, is insoluble in saliva, and has the ability easily lose the moisture absorbed in the mouth. Thirty-four subjects using the Invisalign (Align Technology, Santa Clara, CA, USA) protocol were randomly selected. This was an "intercontrol test", i.e., all subjects under the same conditions acted as controls but also as cases whilst wearing the clear aligners. Patients were asked to chew an almond for 20 s, once with aligners and once without aligners. The material was then dried, sieved, and weighted. Statistical analysis was performed to investigate any significative differences. In all our subjects, the efficiency of chewing with clear aligners was found to be comparable to the efficiency of chewing without clear aligners. In detail, the average weight after drying was 0.62 g without aligners and 0.69 g with aligners, while after sieving at 1 mm, the average weight was 0.08 g without aligners and 0.06 g with aligners. The average variation after drying was of 12%, and after sieving at 1 mm, it was 25%. In summary, there was no substantial difference between chewing with or without clear aligners. Despite some discomfort in chewing, the clear aligners were well tolerated by most subjects, who wore them without difficulty even during meals.
本研究的目的是评估使用透明矫治器的受试者的咀嚼功能，并提出一种简单且可重复的方法用于咀嚼功能的临床和实验评估。在测试中，我们使用了杏仁，这是一种天然物质，容易获取和储存，具有中等的稠度和硬度，不溶于唾液，并且能够轻易失去在口腔中吸收的水分。随机选择了34名使用隐适美（美国加利福尼亚州圣克拉拉市Align Technology公司）矫治方案的受试者。这是一项“自身对照试验”，即所有受试者在相同条件下，在佩戴透明矫治器时既作为对照又作为试验对象。要求患者咀嚼一颗杏仁20秒，一次佩戴矫治器，一次不佩戴矫治器。然后将材料干燥、筛分并称重。进行统计分析以研究是否存在任何显著差异。在我们所有的受试者中，发现佩戴透明矫治器时的咀嚼效率与不佩戴时相当。具体而言，干燥后的平均重量在不佩戴矫治器时为0.62克，佩戴时为0.69克，而在1毫米筛分时，不佩戴矫治器的平均重量为0.08克，佩戴时为0.06克。干燥后的平均变化率为12%，在1毫米筛分时为25%。总之，佩戴或不佩戴透明矫治器咀嚼之间没有实质性差异。尽管咀嚼时有些不适，但大多数受试者对透明矫治器耐受性良好，即使在进餐时也能轻松佩戴。
