Influence of Edentulousness on Masticatory Efficacy of the Elderly: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

The prevalence of edentulousness increases sharply with age and leads to feeding difficulties related to a deficiency in chewing. The course of chewing of these subjects is totally disturbed and the number of masticatory cycles performed, the duration of the sequence or muscle contraction are much higher than in elderly dented subjects. Seniors often have to change their food choices to foods that are easy to chew but are less nutritionally desirable