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Published on: February 23, 2024
Factors associated with masticatory performance in unilateral distal extension removable partial denture patients
Wacharasak Tumrasvin1, Kenji Fueki, Takashi Ohyama
1Department of Masticatory Function Rehabilitation, Division of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan. wacha.rpro@tmd.ac.jp
Purpose:
Masticatory performance of denture patients is an outcome of the intricate inter-relationship between patient characteristics and denture construction. This study aimed to identify both patient- and denture-related factors associated with masticatory performance in unilateral distal extension removable partial denture patients (RPDs).
Materials And Methods:
Seventy-two patients (25 male and 47 female, mean age 63.4 +/- 6.7 years) with unilateral distal extension RPDs were included in the study. The Mixing Ability Index (MAI) obtained from a chewing test using standard two-colored wax cubes, determined masticatory performance. The effect of each evaluated factor on masticatory performance was first determined by an independent t-test or one-way analysis of variance. The statistically significant factors were entered in a model of multivariate linear regression analysis to estimate the independent effect on MAI.
Results:
The MAI ranged from -3.06 to 0.80 (Mean -0.71 +/- 0.86). Univariate analyses identified male gender, high maximum bite force, more functional tooth units, and natural dentition opposing RPDs as patient factors increasing the MAI. Multivariate analysis (adjusted R(2)= 0.346) revealed that gender (p < 0.001), maximum bite force (p= 0.02), and number of functional tooth units (p= 0.03) were independent predictors for masticatory performance. None of the denture-related factors had a significant influence on MAI.
Conclusion:
Gender, maximum bite force, and number of functional tooth units were the main factors influencing masticatory performance of unilateral distal extension RPD patients.
