Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Tsurumi University, Kanagawa, Japan.
Clin Exp Dent Res. 2024 Dec;10(6):e70033. doi: 10.1002/cre2.70033.
This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the age-related development of five major oral functions-tongue pressure, lip pressure, masticatory efficiency, bite force, and occlusal contact area-in subjects aged 5-20 years.
Ninety-two subjects were divided into four age groups: 5-8, 9-12, 13-16, and 17-20 years. Oral functions were evaluated using standardized methods, including Chew Check Gum for assessing masticatory efficiency, Dental Prescale II for measuring occlusal force and contact area, JMS tongue pressure measuring device for evaluating tongue pressure, and Ripple-Kun for measuring lip pressure.
Occlusal contact area, maximum bite force, tongue pressure, and masticatory efficiency gradually increased with age, whereas lip pressure remained stable. The occlusal contact area temporarily decreased between 5 and 12 years of age, likely due to the replacement of erupting lateral teeth. Some differences were observed between males and females; however, overall trends in oral function parameters were similar. Spearman's rank correlation analyses revealed significant positive correlations between age and occlusal contact area, bite force, tongue pressure, and masticatory efficiency.
Oral function parameters exhibited different age-related development patterns. Occlusal contact area, maximum bite force, tongue pressure, and masticatory efficiency gradually increased with age. Interestingly, the occlusal contact area tended to reduce temporarily between 5 and 12 years of age due to the replacement of erupting lateral teeth. Conversely, lip pressure was almost stable during this period. Our findings provide valuable insights into the developmental patterns of oral functions during the growing years.
本横断面研究旨在调查 5 至 20 岁人群中 5 种主要口腔功能（舌压、唇压、咀嚼效率、咬合力和咬合接触面积）的年龄相关性发展。
92 名受试者被分为 4 个年龄组：5-8 岁、9-12 岁、13-16 岁和 17-20 岁。采用标准化方法评估口腔功能，包括 Chew Check Gum 评估咀嚼效率、Dental Prescale II 测量咬合力和接触面积、JMS 舌压测量仪评估舌压和 Ripple-Kun 测量唇压。
随着年龄的增长，咬合接触面积、最大咬合力、舌压和咀嚼效率逐渐增加，而唇压保持稳定。5 至 12 岁期间，由于侧牙的萌出，咬合接触面积暂时减少。男性和女性之间存在一些差异，但口腔功能参数的总体趋势相似。Spearman 秩相关分析显示，年龄与咬合接触面积、咬合力、舌压和咀嚼效率呈显著正相关。
口腔功能参数表现出不同的年龄相关发展模式。咬合接触面积、最大咬合力、舌压和咀嚼效率随年龄逐渐增加。有趣的是，由于侧牙的萌出，5 至 12 岁期间咬合接触面积暂时减少。相比之下，这段时间唇压几乎保持稳定。我们的研究结果为了解生长过程中口腔功能的发育模式提供了有价值的信息。
