Influence of mandibular residual ridge shape on masticatory efficiency in complete denture wearers.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of mandibular residual ridge shape on masticatory efficiency in complete denture wearers.


METHODS
Twenty-eight complete denture wearers (mean age 75.6 years, SD 4.8) who received their complete denture treatment by one of the authors and had no troubles in daily use were selected. The mandibular residual ridge was evaluated by using a replica of the ridge obtained with heavy-body silicone impression material. The basal area of the replica was measured by a digitizer. The volume and the height of the replica were calculated. Masticatory efficiency in each subject was measured by the sieving method.


RESULTS
There was a significant correlation between the masticatory efficiency and basal area, volume, and height of the residual ridge. The basal area showed the strongest correlation.


CONCLUSIONS
The basal area of the denture foundation greatly influenced the masticatory efficiency, suggesting that the masticatory efficiency in complete denture wearers was limited by their own residual ridges and that clinicians should inform their patients about the limitation of the recovery of masticatory ability before the beginning of denture treatment.
Koshino
Hisashi
H
Department of Removable Prosthodontics, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, School of Dentistry, 1757 Kanazawa, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan. koshino@hoku-iryo-u.ac.jp
Hirai
Toshihiro
T
Ishijima
Tsutomu
T
Ohtomo
Koji
K
D000368:Aged; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000473:pathology*; D003760:Dental Impression Materials; D003761:Dental Impression Technique; D003824:Denture, Complete; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000473:pathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology*; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
D003760:Dental Impression Materials