El odontólogo, custodio de la función masticatoria.

Abstract

The goal of chewing is to properly prepare food for swallowing and digestion. Any problem in the stomatognathic system can deteriorate chewing. The professional responsible of maintaining and/or restoring masticatory function is the dentist. Masticatory function can be evaluated subjectively through questionnaires to measure the patient's perception of his/her masticatory capacity or objectively analyzing occlusal force, the electromyographic activity of the masticatory muscles, the movements of the mandible during chewing or the individual's capacity to breakdown food. These methods are used in research projects but, do we examine if there is any problem during chewing and if we are achieving our goal of restoring masticatory function at the end of the treatment in our offices? Do we really focus on maintaining and/or restoring masticatory function? Not truly, not in our offices or university clinics. It is imperative that we acknowledge our responsibility but for that it is essential that masticatory function and how to evaluate it is given more weight in the curriculum. Let us be genuine guardians of the masticatory function of our patients.