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Saliva is expected to be of significance for the perception of food stimuli in the mouth. Mixing the food with saliva, including breakdown and dilution, is considered to be of large importance for semi-solids as these products are masticated without chewing. It is known that there are large variations in composition of saliva originating from different glands and different subjects. In this study we investigated how variations in salivary characteristics affect sensory perception. Eighteen trained subjects participated in the study. Saliva was collected at rest and during three types of stimulation (odour, parafilm chewing and citric acid), and flow rates were determined. The collected saliva was analyzed for protein concentration, buffer capacity, mucin level and alpha-amylase activity. The salivary components measured in this study varied considerably among subjects, but also within subjects as a result of different means of stimulation. Variations in salivary components were correlated with sensory perception of a number of flavour, mouth feel and after feel attributes in the semi-solids mayonnaise and custard dessert. Total protein concentration and alpha-amylase activity were observed to correlate most strongly with texture perception.

Masticatory muscle electromyograms (EMGs) were recorded while patients with bulbar myasthenia gravis chewed artificial food and compared with those of patients with ocular myasthenia gravis, patients in clinical remission who had previously suffered from bulbar myasthenia gravis and healthy individuals. Masticatory performance and EMGs were significantly smaller in the bulbar group. There were no indications of subclinical masticatory muscle weakness in patients with bulbar myasthenia gravis in remission and in patients with ocular myasthenia gravis. Patients with bulbar myasthenia gravis barely compensated for muscular weakness by chewing at a higher percentage of their maximal EMG. These quantitative findings, when combined with subjective reports of masticatory muscle weakness, show that a need to support the jaw is characteristic of patients with bulbar myasthenia gravis who produce low EMG activity.

The size of a bolus determines how it will be manipulated in the mouth and swallowed. Ten healthy individuals assessed the size of ball bearings of five sizes (4-11 mm diameter) and four materials with different densities in order to investigate the effect of weight on oral size perception. To study the role of the tongue and palate, the experiment was performed with and without a custom-made plastic palate. The results revealed that size itself determines size perception, and that material and weight are negligible factors. An illusional effect in the direction of under-estimation was found for the ball bearings, especially for the small sizes up to 8 mm diameter. While wearing a plastic palate a significant improvement (P<0.05) occurred; the participants performed better and there was less under-estimation. An explanation for this could be that only a minor part of the total area of the ball bearing touches the palate and is hence detected, while the tongue alone is more compliant and thereby able to sense the ball's whole size.

Changes in the activity of human jaw-elevator muscles related to the mandibular stretch (jaw-jerk) reflex could be involved in the aetiology of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). In order to investigate whether there are differences in the sensitivity of the jaw-jerk reflex between myogenous TMD patients (n = 10) and gender- and age-matched controls (n = 10), jaw-jerk reflexes were elicited under standardized conditions. By measuring the reflex with bipolar surface electromyography (EMG), reflex sensitivity was determined from relations between reflex amplitude and jaw displacement from the masseter and the anterior temporalis muscles. Reflex amplitude and background EMG activity were normalized with respect to the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) to correct for differences in the thickness of soft tissues overlying the muscle or in electrode placement. In addition to normalization with respect to MVC, for the patients, normalization was also applied with respect to a MVC that was scaled by multiplying values by the ratio of the mean MVC of controls to the mean MVC of patients. At a constant level of background EMG activity, the reflex sensitivity can be determined from the slope (reflex gain) and x-intercept (reflex threshold) of the reflex amplitude-jaw displacement relation. No significant differences between patients and controls were found for the gain or threshold values of either the masseter or the anterior temporalis muscles with a univariate analysis of variance. It is concluded that jaw-jerk reflex sensitivity is not significantly changed in myogenous TMD patients. Therefore, the fusimotor system probably does not play a part in the perpetuating myogenous TMD.

Mesiodistal dimensions of teeth in 59 relatives of 26 patients with oligodontia were evaluated and compared with the size of teeth of a control group (n = 66). It was found that the teeth of relatives do show reductions in size even in relatives with a full permanent dentition. In male relatives with a full permanent dentition these reductions were significant for the central and lateral incisors, the cuspids, lower second premolar, upper first molar and lower second molar. For female relatives with a full permanent dentition these reductions were significant for central and lateral incisors, cuspids, first premolars and upper first and second molars. Reductions in tooth size are known to be associated with oligodontia. Therefore, in determining the mode of inheritance, measurements of the size of the teeth of both patients and relatives are important.

Tooth size and left-right asymmetry of tooth dimensions in oligodontia were compared with those of a control group. Both early and late developing teeth were severely affected, and almost all teeth had significant reductions, compared to the control group, in mesiodistal and labiolingual dimensions. Left-right asymmetry of tooth dimensions was also found, but for the mesiodistal dimensions these were not significantly different from the control group. The occurrence of reductions in tooth size and left-right asymmetries suggests that oligodontia is not just an isolated phenomenon. The left-right asymmetry indicates a developmental instability in these individuals. More research is needed, to reveal the aetiology and pathogenesis of oligodontia.

In order to investigate whether there are bilateral differences in the sensitivity of the mandibular stretch (jaw-jerk) reflex between patients with a myogenous craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) and healthy controls free from signs and symptoms of CMD, jaw-jerk reflexes were elicited under standardized conditions in two groups of 10 gender- and age-matched subjects. The reflexes were recorded bilaterally from the masseter and the anterior temporal muscles by means of bipolar surface electromyogram (EMG). Reflex amplitudes at a mandibular displacement of exactly 80 microns and at a background muscle activity of exactly 12% maximum voluntary contraction were determined from relations between reflex amplitude and jaw displacement. These were obtained at a visually controlled, constant clenching level. For both groups, comparisons were made between reflex amplitudes from the right- and the left-hand side. In CMD patients with predominantly unilateral jaw muscle pain, comparisons were also made between the pain and non-pain sides. Although significant side asymmetries were found in many individuals, no significant differences were found among bilateral asymmetries in reflex sensitivity between patients and controls. No influence of pain side on the asymmetries was found. It was concluded that neuromuscular factors do not cause significant bilateral differences in the sensitivity of the jaw-jerk reflex between patients with myogenous CMD and controls. In a control experiment, in which eight healthy control subjects participated, the influence of a possible asymmetry in jaw displacement on the reflex sensitivity was evaluated. To achieve this, reflexes were elicited not only by means of a bilaterally imposed mandibular load, but also by means of loading via a unilateral bite-fork, so that an equal, constant jaw displacement could be imposed successively on both sides of the mandible. As no significant differences were found in bilateral asymmetries in reflex sensitivity between unilateral and bilateral mandibular loading, the influence of a possible asymmetrical jaw displacement on side asymmetries in the jaw-jerk reflex sensitivity is negligible in our experimental model.

The design of dental superstructures influences the loading on dental implants and the deformation of the anterior interforaminal bone in an edentulous mandible. This deformation causes stress in the bone around the implants and may lead to bone resorption and loss of the implant. The stress distribution around dental implants in an edentulous mandible was calculated by means of a three-dimensional, finite-element model of an entire lower jaw. This model was built from data obtained from slices of a single human mandible and was provided with two endosseous implants in the interforaminal region. The implants were either connected with a bar or remained solitary, and were loaded with a horizontal bite force of 10 N, a vertical bite force of 35 N, or an oblique bite force of 70 N. The most extreme principal stresses in the bone were always located around the neck of the implant. Stress around the implant was, therefore, not only caused by the local deformation of the bone due to movement of the implant and interface relative to the surrounding bone but also by the bending of the mandible. The most extreme principal stress was found with oblique bite forces. The highest maximum and lowest minimum principal stresses were 7.4 and -16.2 MPa in the model without the bar and 6.5 and -16.5 MPa in the model with the bar. When differences in the amount of bite force were eliminated, the vertical bite force resulted in the lowest stress.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The masticatory performance of a group of subjects missing on average 5.7 postcanine teeth and of a control group with complete dentitions were compared. There were significant differences in performance between the two groups. Within the patient group the number of occluding units significantly influenced performance. The average number of chewing cycles needed to prepare the food for swallowing was significantly larger for the patient than for the control group. Despite this, subjects in the patient group swallowed, on average, significantly larger food particles. Correlations between chewing performance and the number of chews up to swallowing within each of the two groups did not reach significance. However, combining the data from the two groups and thus increasing the range of chewing performances yielded a highly significant correlation. Subjects with reduced performance needed more chewing cycles before swallowing the food. Significant correlations were also found between chewing performance and the size of the swallowed food; subjects with poor performance swallowed larger particles. The numbers of chewing cycles made to swallow a natural (peanut) and an artificial (Optosil) test food were highly correlated, indicating that both foods are suitable for testing chewing performance.

Masseter and temporal surface electromyograms were obtained from seven dentate subjects and six complete-denture wearers during mastication, maximal voluntary clenching and measurements of bite force. The participants chewed two artificial test foods with different textures. The dentate subjects comminuted both foods much better than the denture wearers. In both groups, the softer food was comminuted better than the firmer food. The differences in particle-size reduction originated largely from differences in the numbers of particles fragmented per chewing stroke. The rhythm of mandibular movement was unaffected by food texture and dental state. No significant differences in the duration of bursts of electric muscle activity were found between either group. Peak amplitudes of activity during mastication and maximal voluntary clenching were more than twice as large in the dentate subjects as in the denture wearers. In both groups, chewing the softer food was associated with lower peaks of activity than with the firmer food. The peak amplitudes were weakly related to the reduction in particle size. In both groups, the peak forces determined from electromyographic activity were larger than the estimated forces required for fragmenting the particles between the teeth.

The masticatory performance of an individual may be quantified by describing the size distribution of particles of a comminuted test food as a function of the number of chewing strokes. A standardized sieving method and a standardized artificial test food (Optosil) were used to obtain reproducible results. Some measurements were performed using peanuts. The distribution of particle sizes of the comminuted food was adequately described by a Rosin-Rammler distribution function for the seven participating individuals which characterizes the size distribution by the median particle size (x50) and the broadness of the distribution (b). The broadness variable b hardly depends on the number of chewing strokes, and the differences in b between the individuals are small. Considerable differences in the median particle sizes at a given number of chewing strokes were observed between the subjects, reflecting differences in efficiency of comminution of a test food. For all subjects, the median particle size decreased as a function of the number of chewing strokes N according to the relation, x50 = c X N-d. Variables c and d characterized the efficiency of comminution by the subjects.

Reflex sensitivity from stimulating the chin or the dental arch of the mandible and the influences of periodontal and mandibular joint receptors on jaw muscles were investigated by experiments with and without anaesthesia. The findings showed that periodontal receptors exert an inhibitory influence on motoneural excitability of jaw-closing muscles and facilitate alpha-motoneurones of the digastric muscle and that the silent period following a jaw jerk is partly caused by inhibition of alpha-motoneurones of jaw-closing muscles due to activity of periodontal receptors. The ratio of reflex activity in temporal and masseter muscles appeared to depend on the position of the applied stimulus. The mandibular joint receptors appear to play a major part in distributing active muscle-force over these muscles.

Chewing performance was quantified by determining the particle-size distribution of comminuted food as a function of the number of chewing strokes. The rate of food breakdown was taken to be the result of a combined selection and breakage process; this was quantified in a mathematical model. A linear operation on the particle-size distribution described the changes in this distribution that resulted from an additional chewing stroke. Detailed information was obtained from eight subjects on the selection and breakdown of food particles of different sizes. There were considerable inter-individual differences in the selection chances for small particles. The mathematical method facilitates study of the influence of dental morphology and muscle-related factors on the comminution of food particles.

Two successive force impulses were exerted upon the mandible in the opening direction with intervals of 20 to 120 ms. Electromyographic responses were recorded from the right temporal and masseter muscles and from the anterior belly of the right digastric muscle. Mandibular movement was recorded in the sagittal plane. The first-force impulse evoked a jaw jerk followed by a silent period. The jaw jerk following the second-force impulse was depressed when the interval between the force impulses was shorter than a certain value. The depression was total for at least 20 ms after the first jaw jerk. It is suggested that the silent period is the result of more than one inhibitory mechanism. From comparison of the resulting mandibular movement with movements resulting from single-force impulses, it is concluded that the jaw jerk may contribute to a small but significant extent to the stiffness of jaw-closing muscles.