The effect of pressure on a maximum incisal bite force in man.

The maximum bite force an individual can exert on an upper central incisor when the force is transmitted through a point on the incisal edge (no cover) was compared with maximum bite force when distributed over a full acrylic cap (full cover). Eighteen participants rapidly produced a maximum bite force three times each under no-cover and full-cover conditions. The magnitude and direction of the maximum bite force were monitored by a transducer placed between upper and lower incisors. There was no significant change in the direction of the bite force under the two conditions. The average maximum bite force was significantly larger (mean-4.9%, SD-4.6%, p < 0.001) in the full-cover condition. The increase in maximum bite force was attributed to the reduced pressure on the crown under the full-cover condition when compared with the no-cover condition. This implies the existence of mechanoreceptors within the pulp of a tooth because periodontal mechanoreceptors can affect feedback only by monitoring differences in the force on a tooth, not differences in pressure on the crown.