RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the differences in masticatory efficiency among patients with different Angle's classes of malocclusion and to assess the correlation between masticatory efficiency and the occlusal contact area. METHODS: The mixing ability index (MAI) was calculated for measuring masticatory efficiency of 61 adult patients according to Angle's classifications of malocclusion. The study included 25, 15, and 21 patients with Angle's Class I, II, and III malocclusions, respectively. Silicone interocclusal recording material was used to measure the occlusal contact area. RESULTS: Both the MAI and occlusal contact area showed the highest average values in the Class I malocclusion group, followed by the Class II and Class III malocclusion groups. No significant difference was observed in the MAI values between the Class I and Class II malocclusion groups (p > 0.05), whereas a significant difference was observed between the Class I and Class III malocclusion groups (p < 0.01) and between the Class II and Class III malocclusion groups (p < 0.05). A weak positive correlation was also observed between the MAI and occlusal contact area (p < 0.01, r² = 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that masticatory efficiency was the highest in patients with Angle's Class I malocclusion, followed by those with Angle's Class II and Angle's Class III malocclusions. Moreover, a weak positive correlation was observed between masticatory efficiency and the occlusal contact area.