The relationship between lip-closing strength and the related factors in a cross-sectional study

Publication date: December 2017Source: Pediatric Dental Journal, Volume 27, Issue 3Author(s): Issei Saitoh, Emi Inada, Yasutaka Kaihara, Yukiko Nogami, Daisuke Murakami, Norihito Ishitani, Tadashi Sawami, Yoko Iwase, Tsutomu Nakajima, Naoko Kubota, Kaoru Sakurai, Toshiya Tsujii, Yoshito Shirazawa, Mika Hanasaki, Mie Kurosawa, Miyuki Goto, Maki Nosou, Katsuyuki Kozai, Youichi Yamasaki, Haruaki HayasakiAbstractIntroductionNo diagnostic standard for assessing lip-closing strength (LCS) currently exists for clinicians. The aim of this study is to examine patterns in age-related changes in LCS and factors associated with LCS.MethodsIn total, 554 children aged 3–12 years participated in this study. They had no serious dental caries and no lip or mandibular dysfunction. We measured the children's LCS with a force device, and their parents completed a 24-item questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using the unpaired t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient test.FindingsLCS increased significantly from 3 to 6 years of age, but reached a plateau phase from 7 to 12 years of age. Between the ages of 3–12 years, LCS rapidly increased until infancy in a similar trajectory to the general type observed in Scammon's growth curve. In the 3 to 6-year-old age group, the correlation coefficient between “Age” and LCS was higher than between other items, and “Gender” and “Drinking liquid during meals” moderately correlated with LCS in the 7 to 12-year-old age group. ...
Source: Pediatric Dental Journal - Category: Dentistry Source Type: research