Gaylord S. Throckmorton

Normal masticatory performance in young adults and children

Previous studies have paid little attention to either the development or sexual dimorphism of masticatory performance. The aim of this study was to measure and compare the masticatory performance of adults and children. Forty-seven healthy and normal individuals (15 adult men, 15 adult women, 15 young girls and 2 young boys) were selected, based on their occlusion, temporomandibular joint function, skeletal classification, and the state of their dentition. Masticatory performance was evaluated by the individuals ability to break down a standardized bolus. Cuttersil impression material was chewed for 20 strokes, spat out, dried, and passed through a series of seven sieves. The Rosin-Rammler equation was used to calculate the median particle size and broadness of particle distribution. Measurements of dentitional surface area, contact area, bite force, mandibular morphology, and body size were also taken as covariates. The results showed significant differences in masticatory performance among the three larger groups; men performed best, followed by women then girls. Multiple regression analyses showed that body size was the most important variable associated with differences in masticatory performance. Adjusting for weight eliminated the group differences. Body size, together with the occlusal contact area of the posterior teeth and the bite force, explained 60-72 percent of the variation in performance. Contact area, posterior ramus height, and bite force explained differences between men and women, but differences between adults and children remained.

Quantification of human chewing-cycle kinematics

This study introduces new methods of quantifying and evaluating the human chewing cycle. These methods were validated on a sample of 26 young adults (11 women and 15 men) between 20-35 years of age. Movements of the mandibular central incisors were recorded (100 Hz) using an optoelectric computer system while the participants chewed gum. A subsample of 10 cycles was automatically selected, based on multiple objective criteria to ensure representative cycles for each individual. Once representative cycles had been identified, multilevel statistical models were used to evaluate and describe the samples kinematic patterns. The multilevel procedures allow for missing observations, they do not assume equal intervals, and variation can be partitioned hierarchically. Two-level models showed significantly shorter cycle duration for males (835 msec) than females (973 msec). Inferior-superior (IS) cycle range was 2.6 mm larger and maximum IS velocity was 19.6 mm/sec faster in males than females. There were no significant differences in medial-lateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) excursive ranges or velocities. With the exception of cycle duration and ML ranges of motion, random variation was three to five times larger between individuals than between cycles. The three-level models showed that eighth-order polynomials were necessary to describe IS, AP, and ML chewing movements of the entire cycle. The models identified highly significant sex differences in cycle kinematics (excursions, velocities, accelerations, etc.) for each aspect of movement (AP, IS, and ML). It is concluded that this approach provides several important advantages over existing methods, including (a) its objectivity, (b) a more complete description of kinematic patterns, (c) a hierarchical description of variation, and (d) its ability to test hypotheses statistically.

Incisor and mandibular condylar movements of young adult females during maximum protrusion and lateratrusion of the jaw

This study evaluated the correlations between condylar translation and incisor movements during maximum protrusion and lateratrusion. The sample was 27 adult females (23--35 years old), selected for normal temporomandibular function, occlusion, and skeletal patterns. Condylar and mandibular central incisor movements [linear distances (LD) and curvilinear pathways (CP)] were recorded in three dimensions for 20 s with an optoelectric (Optotrak) jaw-tracking system while each participant performed multiple maximum protrusive and lateratrusive cycles. Masticatory analysis and multilevel statistical programs computed the three-dimensional movements of the incisors and condylar hinge axis during protrusion and lateratrusion. CP of the incisor point averaged 12.0 mm (9.3 mm LD) during protrusion, 13.0 mm (11.5 mm LD) during right excursion and 12.3 mm (11.0 mm LD) during left excursion. CP of the condyles averaged 11.9--12.9 (9.2--9.5 LD) mm during protrusion. During lateratrusion the contralateral condyles moved anteroinferiorly 11.6--14.1 mm (9.5--10.2 mm LD); the ipsilateral condyles moved posterolaterally 5.8-6.8 mm (2.3--2.5 mm LD). The left condyles demonstrated more movement than the right condyles during protrusion and than the contralateral condyles during laterotrusion. Relative variation, as measured by the coefficient of variation, was greater for the movements of the ipsilateral than contralateral condyles. Incisor movements were only moderately related to condylar movements between individuals and between replicates; LDs showed stronger correlations than CPs; and correlations were stronger for lateratrusion than protrusion. While incisor and condylar movements were not affected by repeated protrusion, incisor CP (approx. 0.2 mm/cycle) and LD (approx. 0.1 mm/cycle) increased significantly with repeated excursive movements to the left and right. It was concluded that (1) incisor protrusion and lateratrusion provide moderately reliable measures of condylar translation; (2) the linear distances that the incisors move during lateratrusion provide the best measure of contralateral condylar translation; and (3) condylar movements are not affected by repeated protrusion or lateratrusion.

Comparability of radiographic and 3D-ultrasound measurements of facial midline tissue depths

ABSTRACT: As a second step in our three‐dimensional (3D) ultrasound research on facial tissues, orthodontic patients with available lateral cephalographs (radiographs) allowing measurements of tissues along the midline of the face were recruited for ultrasound scanning. Comparison of three points on the upper lip (A‐point), chin (B‐point), and nose (nasion) produced differences of varying magnitude between radiographic and ultrasound measurements, with the B‐point measurement being clearly affected by head orientation. Concordance was better for A‐point and best for nasion. Although extension of two‐dimensional (2D) ultrasound scanning of facial tissues to 3D scanning for forensic and surgical reconstructive purposes remains a worthy goal, it must be recognized that because of the differences in technique, measurements obtained from the different visualization modalities at present vary in their comparability.