Correlation between periodontal status and biting force in patients with chronic periodontitis during the maintenance phase of therapy.

AIM The association between periodontal status and biting force is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between periodontal status and biting force in patients with chronic periodontitis during the maintenance phase of periodontal treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 198 patients, who had entered a periodontal maintenance programme, were examined for the presence of restorations on the occlusal surface, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing, and mobility of teeth. Quantitative analysis of total biting force, occlusal contact area and biting pressure (defined by biting force per 1 mm(2) of occlusal contact area) was performed using microcapsular pressure-sensitive sheets. RESULTS A multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that total biting force and occlusal contact area were positively associated with the number of present teeth and negatively associated with female gender, mean CAL and mean probing pocket depth. Biting pressure was positively associated with CAL. CONCLUSIONS Reduced periodontal support was found to be associated with decreased total biting force and with increased biting pressure (defined as force per 1 mm(2) of occlusal contact area).