title: Short-term improvement of masticatory function after implant restoration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dental implants present several advantages over other tooth replacement options. However, there has been little research on masticatory function in relation to implant treatment. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the improvement of masticatory function two weeks after implant restoration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Masticatory ability was evaluated with the subjective food intake ability (FIA) and objective mixing ability index (MAI) methods. Fifty-four subjects with first and second missing molars completed the study. The subjects were asked to complete a self-reported questionnaire about 30 different food items, and to chew wax samples 10 times both before and two weeks after implant restoration. A total of 108 waxes were analyzed with an image analysis program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dental implant restoration for lost molar teeth on one side increased the FIA score by 9.0% (P<0.0001). The MAI score also increased, by 14.3% after implant restoration (P<0.0001). Comparison between the good and poor mastication groups, which were subdivided based on the median MAI score before implant restoration, showed that the FIA score of the poor group was enhanced 1.1-fold while its MAI score was enhanced 2.0-fold two weeks after an implant surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using the FIA and MAI assessment methods, this study showed that masticatory function was improved two weeks after implant restoration. In particular, the enhancement of masticatory function by implant restoration was greater in patients with relatively poor initial mastication than in those with good initial mastication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry and Public Oral Health, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.; Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Si-Mook
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2341-3636
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry and Public Oral Health, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Sang-Soo
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3198-7912
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry and Public Oral Health, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Ho-Keun
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1264-8387
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry and Public Oral Health, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.; Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Baek-Il
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8234-2327
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Dental implants; Diagnosis; Mastication; Questionnaires