Effect of Edentulism on Spirometric Tests

Abstract

The impact of denture wear in edentulous subjects while performing routine spirometric measurements has never been systematically investigated. We compared the values of FVC, FEV(1), PEFR, FEF(50%), FIV(1), and FIF(50%) recorded with and without dentures in three groups of edentulous subjects: 36 asymptomatic subjects with normal spirometry (N), 22 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and 18 with interstitial lung disease (ILD). In 14 subjects retropharyngeal space with and without dentures was assessed by cephalometry. Subjects with N and ILD had significantly lower airflow rates without dentures, whereas subjects with COPD had no significant difference in spirometric values recorded with or without dentures. The retropharyngeal space was significantly decreased by removing dentures (from 1.52 +/- 0.07 to 1.16 +/- 0.09 cm, SEM, p < 0.0001). These findings indicate that in edentulous subjects with a normal or restrictive pattern, the recording of flow-volume curves with or without dentures produces small but significant differences. Although such differences do not appear to have clinical significance, the fact that when dentures are used some respiratory flows are higher would favor the use of dentures in edentulous subjects during spirometric evaluation.

Standardisation of spirometry

“…Reducing the effort partway through the manoeuvre [13] may give a higher expiratory volume in some subjects, but then is no longer a maximally forced expiration. Well-fitting false teeth should not be routinely removed, since they preserve oropharyngeal geometry and spirometry results are generally better with them in place [14].…”

Tooth loss and obstructive sleep apnoea

“…Forced mid-inspiratory flow (FIF 50 ) was used as the arbitrary index of upper aiway patency [7], as we previously found that it is mostly influenced by removing dentures [6]. Predicted values for FIF 50 were obtained in our laboratory, from a population of 75 asymptomatic healthy subjects without OSA, matched for age and sex.…”

Impact of Dentures Wearing on Spirometric Values; Data from Tertiary Rural Centre

“…Very few studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of wearing complete dentures in edentulous patients on spirometric readings. 7 The subjects selected for this study were normal edentulous patients and the fabrication of complete dentures using standard conventional method and routine materials provided a homogenous and representative sample. The clinical material used in study consisted of both male and female patients.…”

“…The increase in mean PIFR might be due to increase in retropharngeal space after wearing complete dentures and are in agreement with the findings of previous studies. 7,8 Pellegrino R, Viegi G, Brusasco V, et al have also concluded that maximum inspiratory flow (PIF) is largely decreased with an extrathoracic airway obstruction, because the pressure surrounding the airways (which is almost equal to atmospheric) cannot oppose the negative intraluminal pressure generated with the inspiratory effort. 9 In contrast, it is little affected by an intrathoracic airway obstruction.…”