The function of the masticatory system of 13 women, aged 42-59 years, with osseointegrated oral implant bridges (OIB) made within the last seven years was compared with that of 10 matched dentate controls by means of a questionnaire, clinical examination, bite force measurements and electromyographic recordings of biting and of postural muscle activity. Both groups were satisfied with their masticatory capacity according to the questionnaire. The clinically determined state of the masticatory system, as judged from the clinical dysfunction index, was normal in both groups. Three levels of bite force 1) gentle biting, 2) biting as when chewing and 3) maximal biting, were recorded with a bite force apparatus and electromyographically. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups at any level of bite force for any of the methods of registration. Nor was there any difference of the two groups in the activity of the masticatory muscles with the mandible in the postural position. It is concluded that patients with osseointegrated oral implant bridges have a masticatory muscle function equal to or approaching that of patients with natural teeth, or with tooth-supported bridges, with the same number of chewing units as the OIB-patients.

Forty-five individuals with long-standing facial pain or headache of muscular origin were randomly allocated into three groups. The first group was treated with acupuncture, the second group received an occlusal splint, and the third group served as controls. Both acupuncture and occlusal splint therapy significantly reduced subjective symptoms and clinical signs from the stomatognathic system. No differences between these two groups were found with regard to treatment effects. It is concluded that acupuncture is an alternative method to conventional stomatognathic treatment for individuals with craniomandibular disorders of muscular origin.

Oral function was evaluated in complete denture wearers by using a questionnaire, clinical examination and bite force measurements. Ten patients with satisifactory and ten with unsatisfactory dentures were studied and six of the latter patients were reexamined 1 year after the insertion of new dentures. The bite force values were compared with those obtained in ten dentate controls. No significant differences in bite force were found between the satisfactory and unsatisfactory denture groups. Individual values varied much in both groups. The six patients re-examined were satisfied with their new dentures and thought they had improved chewing but no significant increase of bite force was found. The maximal bite force was 5-6 times greater in the dentate subjects than in the denture wearers. Edentulous persons are very handicapped in masticatory function and even clinically satisfactory complete dentures are poor substitutes for natural teeth.

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