Occlusal Force Evaluation in Growing Patients With Posterior Crossbite: A Case-Control Study

Objective: The study aimed to assess occlusal force in patients with posterior crossbite using a dynamometer. Additionally, the discrepancies in force between the crossbite side and the opposite side of the arches were evaluated. Methods: The occlusal force of 52 patients with posterior crossbite was measured and compared with that of 52 patients with normal occlusion. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to compare the force of each side. Because the data had a non-normal distribution, to compare the total occlusal force of the two groups, the Mann–Whitney test was performed. Finally, to compare the force between the two sides, using a symmetry index determined by the difference in force between the sides, the Mann–Whitney test was used. Results: In the group of patients with crossbite, the crossbite side showed greater occlusal force than the opposite side. The total occlusal force was lower in the crossbite group than in the control group. Conclusions: In patients with posterior crossbite, an alteration in occlusal force, characterised by a higher value on the crossbite side than on the opposite side, was observed. In addition, these patients showed lower total occlusal force compared to the control group.