The relationships between maximum bite force (MBF) and facial architecture have been tested in a sample of 118 dental students. The strongest correlations were seen with the variables representative of posterior face height and facial divergence. No correlation could be seen between MBF and incisor's position. MBF allowed only partial discrimination of the individuals in different subgroups constituted by cluster analysis. MBF is to consider as a representation of the individual aptitude to develop more or less powerful forces. It summarises only part of the functional information influencing facial form.