One obstacle to placing artificial posterior teeth in manufacturing complete dentures is a reduction of the space between the maxilla and the mandible. Occasionally, second molar placement is not performed, as it does not affect aesthetics, phonetics or comfort. The aim of this study was to compare the masticatory efficiency between patients wearing maxillary and mandibular complete dentures with reduced dental arches (without second molars) (WSM) and with full dental arches (FDA). Twenty subjects were divided into two groups and randomly received new complete dentures. Patients in Group 1 were given dentures WSM, and those in Group 2 were given dentures with FDA. After the post-placement visits, an initial masticatory efficiency test was performed with Optocal, an artificial test food. Fifteen days later, second molars were placed in Group 1 and removed from Group 2, and a new test was performed. Comminuted material was treated and sieved under vibration. The mean and standard deviation of masticatory efficiency with FDA were 10.4 and 8.1, respectively. In the tests WSM, the mean and standard deviation were 8.4 and 3.3, respectively. After removing the second molars in Group 2 and adding them in Group 1, the mean and standard deviation were 15.7 and 14.7 for Group 1 and 12.5 and 10.4 for Group 2, respectively. Within the limitations of this study, placing artificial teeth up to the first molars can be performed when needed without compromising masticatory efficiency.
According to the results, there were no differences (p < 0.05) in the masticatory efficiency of the complete denture sets using teeth with the two cusp heights.
The goal of a complete denture rehabilitation, is to achieve better life quality for edentulous individuals, reconstructing the facial aesthetics and the masticatory function. Various artificial teeth with different occlusal anatomy are available in the market. Theoretically, teeth with bigger cuspal heights provide a better masticatory efficiency. The aim of this study was to compare the masticatory efficiency of complete denture wearers with artificial teeth of two cuspal heights. Twenty selected complete denture wearers was given complete dentures with higher cuspal height teeth. Fifteen days after post-insertion consults, the first masticatory efficiency test was taken with Optocal. After the test, a pair of complete dentures with lower cuspal height teeth was given to the subjects, replacing higher cuspal height teeth prosthesis. The complete dentures with lower cuspal height teeth were fabricated by means of duplicating the same rockstone models used for the higher cuspal height teeth complete dentures using agar. Fifteen days after post-insertion consults of the subjects wearing the lower cuspal height teeth, a second masticatory efficiency test was taken with optocal. On booth cases, comminuted material was treated and sieved on a stack of sieves under vibration. The content of each sieve was weighed and the data obtained was tabulated. Mean and standard deviation of subjects' masticatory efficiency of complete dentures with higher cuspal height teeth were 4,1 and 0,76 respectively. While tests of complete dentures with lower cuspal height teeth was 3,83 and 0,95 respectively. According to the statistical analysis applied to this study (p<0,05), there were no differences on masticatory efficiency in complete dentures with two different cuspal height teeth.
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