title: Chewing efficiency, bite force and oral health-related quality of life with narrow diameter implants - a prospective clinical study: results after one year.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This prospective study aimed to investigate the evolution of chewing efficiency, maximum voluntary bite force (MBF) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in edentulous patients treated with narrow diameter implants (NDIs) over the course of 1 year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four NDIs (MDI®, 3M ESPE, diameter 1.8 mm) were placed interforaminally in 20 edentulous patients. They were immediately loaded by converting the existing prosthesis into an implant overdenture. Participants were examined six times pre- and postoperatively [baseline (BL) to week 52 (w52)]. Chewing efficiency was evaluated with a colour-mixing ability test by evaluation of the standard deviation of hue (VOH, ViewGum©). MBF was measured using a digital force gauge. OHRQoL was determined with the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIPG49). Nonparametric Brunner-Langer models were applied for statistical testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study failed to demonstrate an effect on chewing efficiency. MBF increased continuously during the observation period (medians: MBF[N]@BL = 46.6 [iqr 50.1]; MBF[N]@w52 = 103.9 [iqr 76.0]; P = 0.002). OHRQoL increased steeply after implant loading and continued improving (medians: BL ∑OHIPG49 = 31 [iqr 40.0]; w4 ∑OHIPG49 = 11.5 [iqr 19.5]; w52 ∑OHIPG49 = 6 [iqr 13.0], P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The stabilisation of a lower complete prosthesis with four NDIs is a feasible minimally invasive and economical approach to improve oral function and OHRQoL, especially in elderly patients with limited bone support. Functional benefits might be more evident if patients receive chewing instructions. Larger studies need to confirm a positive effect on chewing efficiency and develop long-term maintenance solutions if patients become frail because no easy downgrading approaches of one-piece titanium implants exist.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gerodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.|Department of Prosthodontics, Preclinical Education and Dental Material Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Enkling
authors.affiliation: Division of Gerodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saftig
authors.affiliation: Division of Fixed Prosthodontics and Biomaterials, Dental University Clinic, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Worni
authors.affiliation: Professor emeritus, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mericske-Stern
authors.affiliation: Division of Gerodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.|Division of Gerodontology and Removable Prosthodontics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9700-5534
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schimmel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation; D001732:Bite Force; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants
keywords: bite force; chewing gum; edentulous mouth; endosseous dental implantation; mastication; narrow diameter implants; quality of life; symptom assessment