title: Gastrointestinal symptoms and masticatory dysfunction.
abstract: One hundred and forty-two female patients consulting a prosthodontic clinic for masticatory disturbances and suffering from mandibular ridge atrophy were systematically interrogated for the presence of digestive symptoms. Eight-five subjects (60% of the studied population) reported current digestive complaints; 32 had abdominal pain (burning sensation, bloating or cramps), 12 presented stool transit alteration (constipation or diarrhoea) and 41 reported both abdominal pain and stool transit abnormalities. A prospective evaluation of the digestive symptoms was obtained following surgical reconstruction of the atrophic mandibular ridge and insertion of functional dental prostheses to correct masticatory dysfunction. One year after jaw surgery, 62 of 73 patients (85%) initially complaining of abdominal pain reported symptomatic improvement of their condition, while a marked amelioration in stool habits was noted in 34 of 53 patients (64%) initially suffering intestinal transit alteration. The high incidence of digestive complaints in our patients with dental deficits and the improvement of these symptoms after jaw reconstruction support a case for masticatory failure in the development of digestive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Maxillary Atrophy Clinic, St Mary's Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poitras
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology; D003778:Dentures; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication; D011446:Prospective Studies