title: Impact of facial form on the relationship between conventional or implant-assisted mandibular dentures and masticatory function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is not clear if the interaction of craniofacial form with type of prosthetic restoration (conventional or implant-assisted) is related to masticatory function in complete denture patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among facial form, skeletal class, alveolar residual ridge heights and masticatory function in subjects treated with implant-assisted or conventional mandibular dentures with lateral cephalometric evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from a previously reported randomized controlled clinical trial were accessed to compare treatment success rates, functional and perceptual outcomes, dietary intake, and craniofacial relationships between mandibular complete dentures and implant overdentures in edentulous diabetic subjects. Evaluation of the digitized post-insertion lateral cephalometric radiographs provided measures of facial form (mesocephalic "medium", brachycephalic "broad and square", dolichocephalic "vertical and long"), skeletal class (Class I, Class II, Class III), and alveolar ridge height (mm), which were compared to results of standardized masticatory tests as evaluated using MANOVA and REGW post-hoc evaluation (α=.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Masticatory performance on the preferred side was slightly reduced in the dolichocephalic group, compared to brachycephalic and mesocephalic groups (P=.085). Swallowing threshold performance was significantly less in skeletal Class II subjects compared to Class I (P=.034). Maxillary residual alveolar ridge height was significantly less in the brachycephalic group compared to the dolichocephalic group (P<.001). No differences in mandibular ridge height were seen associated with facial form or skeletal class groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Facial form may be related to masticatory function with conventional and implant-assisted mandibular dentures, but larger controlled studies are needed to confirm this relationship. Alveolar ridge height is reduced in edentulous subjects with a brachycephalic facial form.
authors: Restorative Dentistry, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0641, USA. ochiai@usc.edu
authors: Kent T
authors: KT
authors: Ochiai
authors: Satoru
authors: S
authors: Hojo
authors: Camille
authors: C
authors: Nakamura
authors: Hideki
authors: H
authors: Ikeda
authors: Neal R
authors: NR
authors: Garrett
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002508:Cephalometry; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003781:Denture Retention / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D003826:Denture, Complete, Lower; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000145:classification; D008334:Mandible; D008409:Mastication; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014716:Vertical Dimension