title: Evaluation of complete denture quality and masticatory efficiency in denture wearers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate (1) the influence of complete denture quality and years of denture use on masticatory efficiency and (2) the relationship between complete denture quality and years of use.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted with 93 edentulous patients (mean age: 65.6 years) wearing both mandibular and maxillary dentures. Patients were classified into two categories according to years of denture use: ≤ 2 years and ≥ 5 years. Masticatory efficiency was evaluated via the colorimetric method with beads as the artificial test food. A reproducible method for objective evaluation of the technical quality of complete dentures was employed. The association between denture quality and years of denture use was analyzed using chi-square and Fisher exact tests. The results of masticatory efficiency testing were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (with the Tukey post hoc test) in terms of years of denture use (≤ 2 years, ≥ 5 years) and denture quality (poor, average, good).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant relationship was found between denture quality and years of denture use (P < .05). Masticatory efficiency differed significantly (P < .05) between patients with ≤ 2 years of denture use (0.101 ± 0.076 absorbance) and ≥ 5 years of use (0.068 ± 0.076 absorbance). Masticatory efficiency was not influenced by denture quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complete denture quality and masticatory efficiency significantly decreased over time. However, complete denture quality did not influence masticatory efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil. jaiaugusta@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jaiane Augusta Medeiros
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Camila Maria Bastos Machado
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: de Resende
authors.forename: Ana Lilian Correia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mestriner
authors.forename: Angelo Giuseppe
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Roncalli
authors.forename: Arcelino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farias-Neto
authors.forename: Adriana da Fonte Porto
authors.initials: Ada F
authors.lastname: Carreiro
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003778:Dentures; D006801:Humans; D008409:Mastication