Isometric Bite Force in Children and its Relation to Body Build and General Muscle Force

Abstract

Bite force, muscle strength in various muscle groups and body build (skeletal dimensions) were examined in 12 year old children, 37 boys and 42 girls. There were no statistically significant differences in bite force between boys and girls, and only small differences between the children and adults (20-30 years of age) who had been examined earlier with the same technique. In the children, maximum bite force covariated slightly with muscular force and skeletal dimension (r = 0.24 – 0.28, P<0.05), while no statistically significant correlation was found in similarly examined adults. It is suggested that masticatory training is important for bite force while factors relating to body build seem less important.