Document Details Document Type : Article In Journal  Document Title : An index for the measurement of normal maximum mouth opening An index for the measurement of normal maximum mouth opening   Document Language : English  Abstract : PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the width of 3 or 4 fingers of one hand and maximum mouth opening (MMO) in healthy subjects. METHODS: One hundred and forty dental students (age 21 to 42 years, mean 27.4 years) participated in the study. The ability of each subject to position 3 or 4 fingers, vertically aligned, between the upper and lower central incisors up to the first distal interphalangeal folds, was documented. Measurements of MMO and the width of 3 fingers (index, middle and ring fingers) and 4 fingers (index, middle, ring and little fingers) were recorded. RESULTS: All subjects were able to position 3 fingers (of both the right and left hands) between the upper and lower central incisors. Only 12 subjects were able to position 4 fingers (both right and left) in this way. There were no significant differences among the measurements of MMO (mean 48.8 mm), 3 fingers of the right hand (mean 47.3 mm) and 3 fingers of the left hand (mean 47.0 mm) (p > 0.05). However, MMO was significantly different from the width of 4 fingers of the right hand (mean 58.1 mm) and 4 fingers of the left hand (mean 57.5 mm) (p < 0.001). Moreover, there was a strong positive correlation between MMO and the 3-finger measurements (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings strongly suggest that the ability to position 3 fingers in the mouth during dental examination is a convenient index for assessing normal MMO  ISSN : 1488-2159  Journal Name : J Can Dent Assoc  Volume : 69  Issue Number : 11  Publishing Year : 2003 AH 2003 AD  Article Type : Article  Added Date : Thursday, December 6, 2007  Researchers Researcher Name (Arabic) Researcher Name (English) Researcher Type Dr Grade Email خالد زواوي Zawawi, Khalid Investigator Doctorate kzawawi@kau.edu.sa Files File Name Type Description  An index for the measurement of normal maximum mouth opening.pdf pdf   Back To Researches Page