Muscular forces exerted on the normal deciduous dentition.

This study evaluated the distributing characteristic of the forces exerting on the normal deciduous dentition and the relationship between the muscular forces, sex, and oral function. The pressure measurements were made with a computer-aided perioral force-measuring system designed by the authors. The forces were measured when the subject's head position was in a state of natural head position and oral function was at rest or with swallowing. The results indicated that the forces from lips, cheeks, and tongue at rest were about 37-208 N/m2, whereas the pressure during swallowing was about 1009-1679 N/m2. At rest, the pressure from lips and cheeks was higher than that from tongue (P < .05), whereas during swallowing, the lingual pressure was statistically larger (P < .001). A significant correlation existed between the muscular pressure and sex. When at rest, the boy's force from cheeks was higher than that of the girl's (P < .05) but during swallowing the boy's labial pressure was statistically higher than that of the girl's (P < .01). It was concluded that (1) the deciduous teeth are not in a state of absolute balance between external and internal forces, (2) the distributing manner and unbalanced mode of the forces are different with the different oral functions, (3) the lingual side of the mandibular anterior teeth endures great differences during oral functions and it may account for high incidence of malocclusion in this segment, and (4) a statistical difference between muscular forces and sex exists.