Evaluation of complete denture quality and masticatory efficiency in denture wearers

• Published in: The International journal of prosthodontics Vol. 25; no. 6; p. 625
• Main Authors: Ribeiro, Jaiane Augusta Medeiros, de Resende, Camila Maria Bastos Machado, Lopes, Ana Lilian Correia, Mestriner, Jr, Wilson, Roncalli, Angelo Giuseppe, Farias-Neto, Arcelino, Carreiro, Adriana da Fonte Porto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-11-2012
• Subjects: Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentures; Humans; Mastication
• ISSN: 0893-2174

This study aimed to investigate (1) the influence of complete denture quality and years of denture use on masticatory efficiency and (2) the relationship between complete denture quality and years of use.
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 93 edentulous patients (mean age: 65.6 years) wearing both mandibular and maxillary dentures. Patients were classified into two categories according to years of denture use: ≤ 2 years and ≥ 5 years. Masticatory efficiency was evaluated via the colorimetric method with beads as the artificial test food. A reproducible method for objective evaluation of the technical quality of complete dentures was employed. The association between denture quality and years of denture use was analyzed using chi-square and Fisher exact tests. The results of masticatory efficiency testing were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (with the Tukey post hoc test) in terms of years of denture use (≤ 2 years, ≥ 5 years) and denture quality (poor, average, good).
A significant relationship was found between denture quality and years of denture use (P < .05). Masticatory efficiency differed significantly (P < .05) between patients with ≤ 2 years of denture use (0.101 ± 0.076 absorbance) and ≥ 5 years of use (0.068 ± 0.076 absorbance). Masticatory efficiency was not influenced by denture quality.
Complete denture quality and masticatory efficiency significantly decreased over time. However, complete denture quality did not influence masticatory efficiency.