title: Effects of a denture adhesive in edentulous patients after maxillectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of a denture adhesive in edentulous patients after maxillectomy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Maxillectomy patients suffer from functional impairments. Denture adhesives (DAs) are the solution in such patients. However, little is known about DAs in maxillectomy patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight edentulous patients who had undergone maxillectomy were included and divided into three groups. Group 1 (half ≤ remaining residual maxilla), Group 2 (quarter < remaining residual maxilla < half) and Group 3 (remaining residual maxilla ≤ quarter). They were evaluated by a speech intelligibility test and a mixing ability test, respectively. A cream-type DA called New Poligrip(®) (GlaxoSmithKline, Tokyo, Japan) was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Applying the DA, speech intelligibility showed a higher score than the data without DA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effects of using a DA depend on the amount of the remaining residual maxilla. Our study showed that if the remaining residual maxilla is less than a quarter (Group 3), it is difficult to have confidence in the effectiveness of the DA to improve masticatory function. On the other hand, the use a DA showed improved speech intelligibility test values in all groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. yuka.mfp@tmd.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yuka I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Sumita
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Otomaru
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003779:Denture Design; D003781:Denture Retention; D003827:Denture, Complete, Upper; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010158:Palatal Obturators; D010316:Particle Size; D013065:Speech Intelligibility / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives