Masticatory force

Masticatory force or force of mastication is defined as a force, which is created by the dynamic action of the masticatory muscles during the physiological act of chewing.

The muscles that power the jaw movements during chewing are known as the muscles of mastication or masticatory muscles and are functionally classified as;

Jaw elevators: the masseter, temporalis, medial pterygoid, and superior belly of the lateral pterygoid;

Jaw depressors; the anterior digastrics, geniohyoid, mylohyoid and inferior belly of the lateral pterygoid.

The first device for measuring masticatory force (gnathodynamometer) was created by Dr. Bleck. Dr. Bleck found out that periodontal tissue is an important issue, which impact the amount of force in individuals. Dr. Morill found out that masticatory muscles will stop their contraction by appearance the first pain signals from the periodontal tissue differently.

Dr. Shreder used local anaesthesia to ignore the periodontal response to measure the maximum force of mastication. Dr. Shreder's research shows that a 21-year-old man without any periodontal pathology who could produce approximately 35 kilograms-force (340 N) of force, after having local anaesthesia increased the amount of that force increased to 60 kilograms-force (590 N) which roughly was doubled.

Dr. Weber work out that 1 cm² surface of perpendicular slide of any masticatory muscle can produce approximately 10 kilograms-force (100 N) force. The following surfaces were found

temporalis – 8 cm²

masseter – 7.5 cm²

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