ABSTRACT
The main aim of this work is to identify the chewing side by clinic determination of the functional masticatory angle. 70 individuals (58,6% female; 41,4% male) were evaluated. The data were achieved by questionnaire and by clinical examination. The collected data were introduced and analyzed in IBM-SPSS® software, considering a significance level of 5%. We found a statistically significant relation (p≤0,05) between the preferential chewing side and the functional masticatory angle. Bilateral masticators have similar functional masticatory angle and unilateral ones do it for the side with a lower functional masticatory angle. Since most patients do not recognize their preferential chewing side and that it has important functional repercussions that can affect all the components of the stomatognathic system, the simple and rapid clinical determination of the functional masticatory angle indicates the patient’s preferential chewing side.
