Masticatory performance is directly correlated with masticatory muscle work to grind and cut the food. Chewing efficacy is decisive to eating a variety of foods needed maintain general health status at all ages. Older people have oral problems that get worse with age. Elders have more pathologies such as periodontal diseases, caries, tooth loss and inadequate dental prostheses than younger subjects. Objectives: to investigate the correlation between masticatory bite force (MBF) and body mass index (BMI) vs. aging and sex. Methods: This study was performed on 426 subjects (213 females plus 213 male) assigned into five different groups by age. Group “A” aged from 20 to 35 years; group “B” aged 45–59 years; group “C” aged 60–69 years; group “D” aged 70–79 years; and group “E” aged more than 79 years. Results: There were not statistically significant differences in right-side MBF versus left-side MBF. The differences between sex were statistically significant with a stronger bite in males than females (p < 0.05). At the same time, younger subjects had a stronger bite than elders (p < 0.05). In group “E”, more corpulent subjects (BMI > 25) had an MBF higher than less corpulent subjects (BMI < 25, p < 0.05). The analysis of mean MBF showed a statistically significant difference within all groups stratified by BMI with mean values inversely proportional with age (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The results in our study confirm data from many scientific papers. The importance of the present paper was to correlate data between and within a large sample with a wide range of ages. Our sample subjects had a 31%–33% decrease in MBF from group “A” to group “E” group, but they all had full permanent dentation and they preserved a valid MBF.

(1) Background: This study aimed to investigate maximum bite force (MBF) in elderly patients with natural full dentition (FD), patients rehabilitated with Traditional Complete Dentures (CD), with overdentures (IRO) and edentulous patients (ED). We also tested whether MBF changes are associated with gender, age of the patients and body mass index (BMI) as result of altered food; (2) Methods: Three hundred and sixty-eight geriatric patients were included. We studied two types of prostheses: (a) IRO with telescopic attachments. (b) CD (heat polymerized polymethyl methacrylate resin). The MBF was measured using a digital dynamometer with a bite fork; (3) Results: We found that MBF is higher in males than females, regardless of teeth presence or absence (p < 0.01). In patients with CD or IRO, there are no differences between males and females; prostheses improve MBF compared to edentulous patients (p < 0.0001) and this effect is greater with IRO prostheses (p < 0.0001); the chewing force of FD subjects remains greater (p < 0.0001); there are no differences among chewing strength based on different BMI categories, although FD subjects have a reduced incidence of obesity; there is a significant negative correlation between MBF and age (p = 0.038; R = 0.145), and no correlation between MBF and BMI; (4) Conclusions: This study showed that MBF improves more in patients using IRO prostheses, although not reaching the MBF of FD subjects. MBF does not correlate with BMI, although we found increased percentages of obesity in edentulous subjects or those with prostheses. Thus, old people wearing prostheses require special attention by a nutritionist to avoid risk of malnutrition.

Purpose To evaluate several clinical and functional parameters by administration of specific questionnaires to an elderly patient's cohort wearing three different types of removable partial denture (RPD): VALPLAST‐RPD (Polyamide VALPLAST), CoCr‐RPD (cobalt‐chromium alloy), and PMMA‐RPD (heat polymerized polymethyl methacrylate). Materials and Methods One hundred twenty patients (mean age 73 years) were included in this study. All patients were treated with a removable partial denture for the maxillary arch. After 1 year of use, patients and clinicians were asked to compile specific questionnaire on patient satisfaction, including aesthetic, functional, and clinical outcomes. It was also evaluated whether the localization of the missing teeth according to Kennedy classification may affect these parameters. Categorical data obtained from the questionnaires were analyzed by chi‐squared test. Results VALPLAST‐RPD was the most satisfactory aesthetically. Nevertheless, patients of VALPLAST‐RPD group reported increased difficulty in cleaning the prosthesis, roughness perceived by the tongue, and increased retention loss (p < 0.001). Patients with PMMA‐RPD claimed a higher level of encumbrance (p < 0.001) and increased speech difficulties (p = 0.002). Clinically, patients of VALPLAST‐RPD and PMMA‐RPD groups displayed redness of the mucosa area around abutment teeth (p < 0.001). Patients of VALPLAST‐RPD group had four cases of artificial teeth loss and two cases of discoloration. The position of missing teeth did not significantly influence any parameter. Conclusions Each RPD material utilized may present advantages and disadvantages in an elderly population. VALPLAST‐RPD may be recommended to older patients with non‐extensive edentulous areas supported by anterior and posterior teeth, and not subjected to strong chewing loads. The main advantages are aesthetic satisfaction and easiness to insert and remove it.

Background: Removable partial dentures are a frequently used prosthetic treatment in the elderly population, but different types or RPDs might guarantee different chewing capabilities. In many studies, the relationship between chewing and aging has been reported and it has been shown that efficient chewing can improve the overall quality of life. Objectives: In the present study, the relationship between maximum bite force (MBF) and RPDs was studied. A relationship between the body mass index (BMI) and the type of prosthesis was also analyzed. Methods: 240 elderly patients, 120 males and 120 females, with bilateral posterior edentulism (class 1 of Kennedy classification) who had been wearing an RPD for at least a year, were recruited. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1: male (n = 60) and female (n = 60) patients with bilateral edentulous areas located posterior to the remaining natural teeth and natural teeth in the opposite dental arch. Group 2: male (n = 60) and female (n = 60) patients with maxillary and mandibular bilateral edentulous areas located posterior to the remaining natural teeth. Their Body Mass Index (BMI) and Maximum bite force (MBF) were measured and compared according to the material and design of their RPD. Results: In both Groups, patients wearing cobalt-chrome alloy RPDs (Co-Cr-RPD) (Group 1: 20.25 ± 6.7 MBF, p < 0.001; Group 2: 16.0 ± 5.7 MBF, p < 0.001) had an increased MBF when compared to polymethylmethacrylate RPD (PMMA-RPD) (Group 1: 12.9 ± 3.36 MBF; Group 2: 10.4 + 2.8 MBF), and Valplast RPD (V-RPD) (Group 1: 14.3 ± 4.7 MBF; Group 2: 11.3 ± 3.4 MBF) users. There were no significant differences in bite force between patients wearing PMMA-RPD and V- RPD in both Groups. Patients in Group 2 showed a lower MBF than those in Group 1 (Group 1: 16.05 ± 6.13 MBF; Group 2: 12.6 ± 4.84 MBF; p < 0.001). Conclusions: A reduction in chewing force can lead to choosing softer foods for nutrition, which can lead to an increase in BMI. Our results show that only CoCr-RPD wearers were able to chew consistent food, whereas PMMA- RPD and V-RPD, due to the properties of the materials, their instability, and the possibility of causing pain during mastication, determined a limitation in the choice of food for many of the participants.