Maximum bite force and related dental status in children with deciduous dentition.

Six hundred seventy-six Taiwanese children with deciduous dentition were sampled for maximum bite force and related dental status. Sixty-seven percent of children had at least one decayed tooth. The mean number of decayed teeth of all children was 2.97+/-3.58, and the mean plaque index of the right maxillary central incisor was 2.00+/-0.75. Twenty-seven percent of children had occlusal anomalies. Boys had a statistically significantly larger maximum bite force than did girls. Children with normal occlusion had statistically significantly larger maximum bite forces than did children with malocclusion. A statistically positive correlation was found between the number of decayed teeth and the plaque index. However, a statistically negative correlation was found between the number of decayed teeth and the maximum bite force and between the plaque index and the maximum bite force.