Developmental and age-related changes in sensorimotor regulation of biting maneuvers in humans

Abstract

Previous studies indicated distinct differences in biting and chewing behaviors between children and adults. However, these studies used different methodologies and failed to study age-related changes in the fine motor control of biting from childhood to adulthood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate age-related changes in oral fine motor control in healthy children in comparison to adults. Sixty-five healthy children (3–17 years) were equally divided into five age-groups based on their dental eruption stages. Each participant was asked to hold half a peanut rested on a force transducer between two opposing anterior teeth for 3–4 s before splitting it. The force applied on the transducer was continuously monitored and recorded during food holding and splitting. The data obtained from the children subgroups were compared to an adult group (18–35 years). Results showed that the force regulation during food manipulation was higher and more variable in children with primary to early-permanent dentition stages compared to adults. Additionally, children with primary and early-mixed dentition showed longer food splitting duration than adults and exhibited a predominantly step-wise ramp-increase of force. The results of the present study showed age-related changes in fine motor control of food biting maneuvers. The results of the study also suggested that younger children with primary dentition show signs of immature oral fine motor control. However, with an increase in age and the accompanying structural changes, the oral fine motor control eventually transits to a more matured “adult-like” biting maneuvers.