Quantification of masticatory efficiency with a mastication robot

Abstract

This paper describes the quantification of masticatory efficiency by using a mastication robot that was developed as a mechanical simulator of human masticatory jaw motion on the basis of dental robotics. The masticatory efficiency is evaluated on the basis of human mastication and the quantification of masticatory efficiency is studied experimentally. In this paper, the authors use the sifting test to quantify efficiency. The results of chewing experiments with robot by comparing the differences in chewing motion between clenching and grinding showed that the masticatory efficiency of the latter was higher than that of the former.