• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2005

As people prefer to use right or left hand, some have preferred chewing side while others do not. Totally, 82 volunteers composed of students and staffs from Dental Hospital College of Dentistry Yonsei University participated in this study for the investigation of influence of preferred chewing habit, that has lasted for more than a year, on electromyographic(EMG) activity of masticatory muscles and bite force. Among the 82 volunteers, 46 had preferred chewing habit while the other 36 did not. Prior to the investigation, those with factors that could affect the study, such as, general disease, irregular dentition and malocclusion, were screened and excluded by questionnaire and clinical examination. The results were as follows: 1. There was no significant difference in EMG activities between chewing side and non-chewing side of preferred chewing subjects at rest as well as maximal voluntary contraction(MCV)(p>0.05). 2. Asymmetrical coefficient of temporal and masseter muscle EMG activities between preferred chewing subjects and non-preferred chewing subjects at rest was not significantly different(p>0.05). 3. Asymmetrical coefficient of masseter EMG activity was significantly higher(p<0.05) than that of non-preferred chewing subjects at MCV, whereas that of anterior temporal muscle showed no difference(p<0.05). 4. In preferred chewing subjects, there was no significant difference in average bite force and occlusal contact area between chewing side and non-chewing side(p>0.05). 5. There was no significant difference in Asymmetrical coefficients of average bite force and occlusal contact area between preferred chewing subjects and non-preferred chewing subjects (p>0.05). Consequently, preferred chewing habit can be considered as physiological asymmetry with normal function rather than to have influence on EMG muscle activity of masticatory muscles, average bite force and occlusal contact area. Objective standardization to differentiate preferred chewing subjects and non-preferred chewing subjects should be established in the further study.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.165-176
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• 1986

The purpose of this study was to investigate electromyographically the relationship between preferred chewing side and side of initial muscle pains. In this study, 20 normal healthy subjects were selected , and each subject chewed randomly chewing gum for 20 minutes to establish preferred chewing side. To induce initial muscle pains, biting force of 10Kg on the gnathodynamometer was maintained by the subjects. And the Bioelectric processor EM2(Myo-Ironies Research, Inc. U.S.A.) with the surface electrodes was used to record the EMG activity during all experimental procedures. The results were as follows; 1. A majority of the present subjects (60%) had a preferred chewing side, but with few exceptions, subjects were unable to explain why a given side was preferred; explanations were only 'comfort' and 'habit' 2. The chewing, or working side was determined largely by the mean voltage of the surface electromyogram (EMG); in comparison with EMG from the non-wlring (contralateral) side, the working (ipsilateral) side showed a higher amplitude. 3. After the effort, the right masseter muscle is the most frequent site of pains, followed by the left masseter muscle, the anterior part of the right temporalis muscle and tile anterior part of the left temporalis muscle. 4. After the effort, mean voltages of masseter muscles were slightly increased, but mean voltages of temporalis anterior were slightly decreased at physiologic rest position. 5. No relationships could be established between preferred chewing side and side of initial muscle pains.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.424-434
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• 2002

Food habit, eating-out pattern, smoking and drinking habits of 814 elderly (aged over 60) living in Incheon were surveyed by questionnaire. The ratio of the elderly who have balanced meals at moderate amount was slightly higher in urban area. Urban elderly tended to have mild foods, while rural elderly preferred hot and salty foods. Score for food habit was higher in urban elderly and there was no difference between male and female elderly. Most urban elderly had their meal at the public facilities for elderly, while most rural elderly used general restaurant and public room for elderly. Korean foods were the most favorite menu when ate out. Ratio of elderly who have difficulties in chewing was 21.2 and 39.6% for urban and rural elderly, respectively. Many elderly, especially more than 70% of female elderly, prepared the meals for themselves. Rural elderly smoked and drank more than urban elderly and male elderly did more than female elderly.