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[Chewing with shortened dental arches]
D J Witter1, A P Slagter, F A Fontijn-Tekamp
1Vakgroep Orale functieleer, Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen, postbus 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Tandheelkunde
|November 1, 1995
Summary
Having 20 well-distributed teeth, including anterior and premolar teeth, ensures sufficient chewing ability. Removable partial dentures typically do not enhance oral function unless the dental arch is extremely shortened.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Oral Health
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Masticatory performance correlates with the number of teeth.
- Adequate masticatory ability is often maintained with 20+ well-distributed teeth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of shortened dental arches (SDA) on masticatory ability and food selection.
- To assess the effectiveness of free-end removable partial dentures in improving oral function.
Main Methods:
- Correlation analysis between tooth count and masticatory performance.
- Subjective assessment of masticatory ability and comfort.
- Analysis of food selection in patients with SDAs.
Main Results:
- Masticatory ability remains sufficient with 20+ well-distributed teeth, including anterior and premolar teeth, as seen with SDAs.
- SDAs do not generally alter food selection.
- Free-end removable partial dentures offer limited improvement in oral function, except in cases of extreme shortened dental arches with only anterior teeth.
Conclusions:
- Maintaining 20 or more well-distributed teeth, particularly anterior and premolar teeth, is key for adequate masticatory function.
- Dental prosthetics may not be necessary for improving masticatory ability in many SDA cases.