Functional state, bite force and postural muscle activity in patients with osseointegrated oral implant bridges

The function of the masticatory system of 13 women, aged 42-59 years, with osseointegrated oral implant bridges (OIB) made within the last seven years was compared with that of 10 matched dentate controls by means of a questionnaire, clinical examination, bite force measurements and electromyographic recordings of biting and of postural muscle activity. Both groups were satisfied with their masticatory capacity according to the questionnaire. The clinically determined state of the masticatory system, as judged from the clinical dysfunction index, was normal in both groups. Three levels of bite force 1) gentle biting, 2) biting as when chewing and 3) maximal biting, were recorded with a bite force apparatus and electromyographically. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups at any level of bite force for any of the methods of registration. Nor was there any difference of the two groups in the activity of the masticatory muscles with the mandible in the postural position. It is concluded that patients with osseointegrated oral implant bridges have a masticatory muscle function equal to or approaching that of patients with natural teeth, or with tooth-supported bridges, with the same number of chewing units as the OIB-patients.