Aims : To compare bite force in patients with mandibular fractures treated with 2.4mm locking vs 2.7mm nonlocking plates.

Material and Methods: A prospective randomized clinical study was conducted at Taj Hospital and Dental Clinic, Agra, to treat consecutive mandible fractures. The patients were randomly divided into two groups.

Group 1: Treated with 2.4mm locking titanium plates.

Group 2: Treated with 2.7mm nonlocking titanium plates.

The cause of trauma, the number of days from injury to surgery, average age, gender and site of distribution were all reviewed. The assessment was done at 1^st,3^rd,6^th week and 3^rd month using bite force as a clinical parameter.Bite force was recorded using gnathodynamometer consisting of a strain gauge.

Results: A total of 24 patients with mandibular fractures selected met the inclusion criteria. In our study, a statistically significant difference was found between the two groups. However bite force gradually increased at a similar rate in both the groups on subsequent follow up.

Conclusion: Locking plates are more effeicient in bearing masticatory force during oeteosynthesis of fracture.