Maximum voluntary molar bite force in subjects with malocclusion: multifactor analysis

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to determine the maximum voluntary molar bite force (MVMBF) in relation to age, sex, lip competency, midline shifting, dental and skeletal malocclusion, overjet, overbite, and crowding. METHODS: One hundred Saudi patients with orthodontic malocclusion aged 14 to 25 years (51 male and 49 female patients) were investigated in this cross-sectional study. The baseline MVMBF on the right and left side was evaluated in all patients before commencing any orthodontic treatment. The MVMBF was registered with a portable occlusal force gauge in the first molar region during maximal clenching. RESULTS: The MVMBF significantly varied with respect to all nine confounding variables. The MVMBF significantly increased with an age of >18 years, male sex, right-side lip competency, no midline shift, dental and skeletal Class I malocclusion, normal overjet, normal overbite, and mild crowding. CONCLUSION: All nine variables examined in the present study significantly influenced the MVMBF.