title: Influence of mandibular residual ridge shape on masticatory efficiency in complete denture wearers.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koshino
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishijima
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohtomo
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003760:Dental Impression Materials