title: Factors associated with masticatory performance in unilateral distal extension removable partial denture patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Masticatory performance of denture patients is an outcome of the intricate inter-relationship between patient characteristics and denture construction. This study aimed to identify both patient- and denture-related factors associated with masticatory performance in unilateral distal extension removable partial denture patients (RPDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-two patients (25 male and 47 female, mean age 63.4 +/- 6.7 years) with unilateral distal extension RPDs were included in the study. The Mixing Ability Index (MAI) obtained from a chewing test using standard two-colored wax cubes, determined masticatory performance. The effect of each evaluated factor on masticatory performance was first determined by an independent t-test or one-way analysis of variance. The statistically significant factors were entered in a model of multivariate linear regression analysis to estimate the independent effect on MAI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MAI ranged from -3.06 to 0.80 (Mean -0.71 +/- 0.86). Univariate analyses identified male gender, high maximum bite force, more functional tooth units, and natural dentition opposing RPDs as patient factors increasing the MAI. Multivariate analysis (adjusted R(2)= 0.346) revealed that gender (p < 0.001), maximum bite force (p= 0.02), and number of functional tooth units (p= 0.03) were independent predictors for masticatory performance. None of the denture-related factors had a significant influence on MAI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gender, maximum bite force, and number of functional tooth units were the main factors influencing masticatory performance of unilateral distal extension RPD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Masticatory Function Rehabilitation, Division of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan. wacha.rpro@tmd.ac.jp
authors.forename: Wacharasak
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tumrasvin
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fueki
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohyama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001732:Bite Force; D015519:Bone Density; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000503:physiopathology; D003779:Denture Design; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000503:physiopathology