No abstract

In this study, a food intake questionnaire method having 35 food items evaluating the ability of mastication for complete denture wearers was modified to one having 25 food items. The calculation of the masticatory score formula, indicating the masticatory ability of the individual patient, was improved. The validity and reliability of the food intake questionnaire method having 25 food items were discussed and verified.

Successful prosthodontic treatments for a patient with removable partial dentures including maxillofacial prostheses hopefully brings about psychological wellbeing as well as improved health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between quality of life (QOL) and the various aspects of denture function. At first, a questionnaire with a visual analog scale with 16 question items concerning denture and/or eating problems, the present state of health, psychological and physical wellbeing, life satisfaction, and QOL was developed. To discuss the validity and reliability of the questionnaire, 48 outpatients who wore a denture were asked to fill it out. Next, to discuss the difference in QOL of the patient with various kinds of dentures and conditions, 103 outpatients were asked to complete the newly developed questionnaire. The questionnaire which contained four factor areas with eight questions for denture patients was developed by factor analysis with Varimax rotation. The reliability of the QOL scale was confirmed by reliability analysis (Cronbach's alpha = 0.784). The QOL score of edentulous patients with a complete denture having some trouble chewing was significantly lower than that of other denture patients. It was suggested that the wearing of a denture significantly affected the QOL of elderly persons.

In this study, it was elucidated that the masticatory ability in complete denture wearers was influenced by mandibular residual ridge shape. It was confirmed that the mandibular basal area of denture foundation had an influence on the masticatory ability in complete den ture wearers by using a 25item food intake question naire method. AbstractPurpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of mandibular residual ridge shape on the masticatory ability in complete denture wearers. Methods:The subject group consisted of 199 complete denture wearers. The mandibular residual ridge of each subject was evaluated using a replica of the ridge which was obtained with heavybody silicone impression ma terial. The basal area of each replica was measured with a digitizer. The volume and the height of each rep lica were also calculated. The masticatory ability of each subject was evaluated using a25item food intake ques tionnaire method by authors. The masticatory score of each subject was calculated to represent the masticatory ability. Furthermore, all subjects were divided into three groups (S, M, L group) according to the value of the basal area.Results: There were statistically significant correla tions between the basal area of the residual ridge and the masticatory score (r = 0.366, p < 0.01), and also the volume of the residual ridge and the masticatory score (r = 0.314, p < 0.01). The basal area of the residual ridge, the volume of the residual ridge, and the masticatory score of the L group (29 persons) were statistically larg er than those of the M group (136 persons) and the S group (34 persons) (p < 0.05), and those values in the M group were statistically larger than those of the S group (p < 0.05). Conclusion:It was confirmed that the basal area of denture foundation of the mandible had an influence on the masticatory ability in complete denture wearers.

This study was conducted to elucidate the relationship between the presence of occlusal support in edentulous subjects and their ability for physical exercise. Ten complete denture wearers were selected and instructed to jump vertically while standing on a force plate with and without occlusal support (i.e. dentures). On the curve recorded by the force plate (1) reaction time (latency) (2) jump elevation time and (3) maximum kicking force were analysed. The reaction time, which is an index of physical quickness, was significantly prolonged when the subjects lost their occlusal support. This result suggests that reconstruction of occlusal support at a desirable mandibular position has significance not only for the restoration of masticatory function but also for the maintenance of physical exercise.