Chewing characteristics in children in the mixed dentition

Purpose:  the purpose of this work was to characterize the children's chewing standard from 9 to 10 years old in the mixed dentition with normal occlusion.

Methods:  the occlusion of 74 children was evaluated as exclusion criterion. Of these 74 children, 50 (67,6%) had normal occlusion. The chewing of these 50 children was evaluated. It was requested to the children that they chew a soft bread the way they used to do. All the examination was filmed. It was observed during the chewing: how they bite the bread; positioning of the lips and side of the chewing. Later, it was done a description of the collected sample.

Results:  98% of the children showed break of the food with the incisive teeth, 70% closed positioning of the lips and 92% bilateral chewing.

Conclusions:  the children's chewing standard in the mixed dentition is similar to the adult's.

Keywords:
Mastigation; Dentition mixed; Dental occlusion; Child