A novel miniature bite force recorder and its clinical application.

Solid state components were used to construct a miniature bite force recorder suitable for registrations in large study groups. A semiconductor was chosen as the sensory unit. The complete recording system included a power supply, the bite force recorder, a chart recorder and a millivoltmeter. Laboratory calibration tests were performed to screen the limitations of the recorder. Series of loads were applied in the range from 10 to 1000 N. Eight females and eight males, 20 to 25 years old, were asked to produce a succession of maximum bites at three second intervals for as long as possible. The bite force recorder was positioned between the first molars on the left side. The laboratory tests showed that loads in the range from 10 to 1000 N were recorded with an error less than four percent. In the clinical tests, the mean maximal bite force was 500 N ranging from 330 to 680 N. The number of maximum bites varied from 5 to 27. No statistically significant differences were observed between the sexes as regards the maximal bite force and the number of bites.