Pedodontics Bolus size for the evaluation of masticatory performance in 8 – 10-year-old children: a pilot study Ana Maria Wintergest 1 , Adriana Lucila Garza-Ballesteros 2 , Julio Carlos Garnica- Palazuelos 1 Graduate School of Dentistry, Universidad Nacional Auto ´noma de Me ´xico, Mexico, 2 Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Auto ´noma de Me ´xico, Mexico Objective: To study bolus-size of different foods in 8- to 10-year olds and appraise if 1.7–2 g of conden- sation silicone (Optosil H ) is an adequate size to study masticatory performance in children. Methods: Bolus-size of seven foods (carrot, almonds, sausage, banana, cookie, gummy bears, raisins) (placed in random order on a scale) was studied in 20 children, aged 8–10 years. Children picked up the amount they would normally take of each, and chewed and swallowed it (three repetitions/each). Stat- istical analysis: Descriptive; comparisons with ad hoc tests. Results: There are no gender differences in bolus-size. Bolus-size was constant but different for each food. There is no pattern of bolus-size depending on hardness. Bolus-size was largest for banana; smallest for almonds. Bite-size for carrot (food most similar to Optosil H ) is 2.6 times larger than the size used for Optosil H . Discussion: The results support using this bolus-size of the artificial-test-food to further study masticatory function in children. Keywords: Chewing, Masticatory performance, Bolus size, Bite size, Chewing in children, Artificial test food Introduction Masticatory function has been studied more in adults than in children, and when children have been stu- died, the protocols used have been either the same as that for adults or have been somewhat adapted, although they vary a lot (Table 1). One of the methods of evaluating masticatory function is through the ability of subjects to fracture their food after a certain number of chewing cycles. This test is called masticatory performance (MP). 1 Mastica- tory performance has been studied with the use of natural foods such as peanuts, carrots, gummy bears, pistachios, and almonds; 2–10 in most studies the bolus size has been set by the researcher. Because chewing is affected by differences in food characteristics (type/texture and size), 7,8,21–26 which vary in natural foods, standardized test foods have been developed and used for this purpose. Edlund and Lamm 27 tested the suitability of condensation silicone (Optosil H , Bayer) as an artificial test food which is molded into tablets 16,28,29 or cubes. 15,30 It is important to mention that differences between individuals are more likely detected with ‘‘hard’’ test foods. 10,31 There is a standardized protocol for the making of the tablets, 32 and Buschang et al. 33 found 3/4 of a tablet the best size to evaluate MP because of the lower coefficient of variation in medium particle size and distribution of the chewed material of all sizes tested. Three fourths of a tablet weighs around 1.7 to 2 g. This size is smaller than the range of bolus sizes of natural test foods 2,7,34 and smaller than natural bolus sizes reported for adults. 35 This size has been used to evaluate MP of subjects of all ages. Age influences MP. 16,36,37 There are important differences between adults and children that influence masticatory physiology. Maximum occlusal force, which is related to mastication, increases with age 36,38–42 as well as the amount of tooth con- tacts. 36,43 Differences in chewing kinematics have also been reported. 44,45 These and other differences between adults and children could make using the same bolus size of artificial test foods to test MP inappropriate for children. The only report found Correspondence to: Ana Maria Wintergerst, Rio Churubusco 594-304, Col. Del Carmen, Coyoaca ´n, Me ´ xico D.F. C.P. 14260, Me ´ xico. Email: anawintergerst@yahoo.com ß W. S. Maney & Son Ltd 2015 DOI 10.1179/2151090315Y.0000000024 CRANIOt: The Journal of Craniomandibular & Sleep Practice 2015 VOL. 00 NO.0 1