Speech and the swallowing threshold in single implant overdenture wearers: A paired control study

Single implant mandibular overdentures (SIMOs) can improve mastication in edentulous elderly people. However, little attention has been paid to their effects on articulation disorders and the swallowing threshold relative to those of conventional complete dentures (CDs).

To compare the effects of new conventional CD set and SIMOs on articulation disorders, mandibular movements during speech and swallowing threshold using a paired study design.

Twenty-two edentulous Brazilian Portuguese-speaking elderly people (mean age 66.7 ± 4.6 years) were first evaluated whilst wearing their old conventional CDs. Articulation disorders were analysed by audio and video recordings, mandibular movements during speech were measured by kinesiography, and the swallowing threshold was assessed by masticatory cycle counting and medium particle size (X₅₀ ) calculation. Participants then received new conventional CDs, and evaluations were repeated 2 months later. Subsequently, single implants were installed in the midlines of subjects' mandibles, and the conventional CDs were converted to SIMOs. After 2 months of SIMOs use, the evaluations were repeated. Data were submitted to the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel and ANOVA.

No difference in articulation disorders was found between new conventional CD and SIMO use. The frequency of anterior lisp during /s/ and /z/ phoneme pronunciation was reduced with new conventional CD use relative to old conventional CD use (p < .05). The X₅₀ decreased progressively with new conventional CD and SIMO use (both p < .05).

SIMOs do not alter speech relative to new well-fitted conventional CDs, but improved the swallowing threshold, in edentulous elderly people.