Clinical assessment of chewing function of obturator prosthesis wearers by objective measurement of masticatory performance and maximum occlusal force.
OBJECTIVE
Eating, which includes chewing and swallowing, is an oral function that influences quality of life. Though the swallowing ability of maxillectomy patients was reported in our previous study, the chewing function has not been fully reported to date. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the chewing function of obturator prosthesis wearers by measurement of masticatory performance and occlusal force. The relationship of these 2 measurements was also investigated.


METHODS
Twenty maxillofacial obturator prosthesis wearers undergoing periodic checkup at the maxillofacial rehabilitation clinic in Kyushu University Hospital were recruited for this study. Additionally, 20 young, healthy individuals were recruited as controls. Data on masticatory performance, which was measured by a sieve method using hydrocolloid material, and maximum occlusal force, which was measured by the Dental Prescale System (Fuji Film), were obtained for each participant.


RESULTS
The mean of masticatory performance was 2.6 (SD 1.2) on a 1.40-mm mesh. There was no significant difference in masticatory performance between the patient group and the controls. The mean maximum occlusal force of the patient group was 625.9 N (SD 299.1 N), which was significantly lower than that of the control group. There was no significant correlation between masticatory performance and maximum occlusal force for the patient group in this study (P = .3726).


CONCLUSIONS
Masticatory performance of obturator prosthesis wearers with dentate or partially edentulous maxillae was not different from that of young, healthy individuals, though maximum occlusal force of these patients was lower than that of controls.
Matsuyama
Miwa
M
Division of Removable Prosthodontics, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, Higashiku, Fukuoka, Japan. miwa@dent.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Tsukiyama
Yoshihiro
Y
Tomioka
Mikiko
M
Koyano
Kiyoshi
K
D000328:Adult; D001732:Bite Force; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000473:pathology; D003760:Dental Impression Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010158:Palatal Obturators; D010316:Particle Size
D003102:Colloids; D003760:Dental Impression Materials