Factors affecting masticatory performance during the mixed dentition period

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K23040
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0907:Oral science and related fields
• Research Institution: Otemae Junior College
• Principal Investigator: Shiramizu Masako 大手前短期大学, 歯科衛生学科, 助教 (10879448)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 咀嚼能力 / 学童期 / 歯列交換 / 食育

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is said that dental intervention is necessary for the growth and development of oral functions in school-aged children. The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of masticatory ability (shearing performance (SP) and mixing performance (MP)) and to examine the relationship between masticatory ability, oral-related factors, and physical factors in schoolchildren in the period of dentition replacement.
The results suggested that there was a tendency that there was a difference in the developmental difference by tooth age and the relationship between masticatory ability and physical function in the gummy jelly that measured SP and the xylitol chewing check gum that measured MP.

Free Research Field

補綴系歯学関連

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

歯列交換期には咀嚼能力の低下が見られると指摘されているが，その咀嚼能力に関してはあまり明らかになっていない．一方で、学齢期は，成長発育状況によって摂取できる食品が変化するため，個人の段階に合わせた指導が必要である．
本研究により，歯列交換期における咀嚼能力に影響を与える因子の特定と関連を明らかにすることで，保護者や食育に携わる関係者および子どもに対して口腔領域からみた食べ方や配慮すべき食習慣について提示することができる．その結果，学童期の「食べる機能」に対してよりきめ細やかな支援を目指した活動に取り組むことができると考えられる。