Masticatory function in patients with congenital and acquired maxillofacial defects

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Prosthodontics
• Rehabilitative Dentistry

Background:

• Maxillofacial defects significantly impact patients' quality of life and oral function.
• Prosthodontic rehabilitation is crucial for restoring function and aesthetics in these patients.
• Understanding patient adaptation and functional outcomes is essential for optimizing treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical outcomes of prosthodontic treatment for maxillofacial defects.
• To assess chewing efficiency and occlusal force in patients with maxillofacial prostheses.
• To determine the level of patient adaptation and the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders.

Main Methods:

• Clinical examination of 98 patients with maxillofacial defects.
• Patient questionnaires assessing chewing ability and adaptation.
• Objective measurements of chewing efficiency and occlusal force.
• Assessment for signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders.

Main Results:

• Despite objective limitations in chewing soft food (30%) and inability to chew almonds (one third), only 14% reported poor chewing ability.
• Mean occlusal force was low (80 N, median 49 N), with wide individual variation (max 327 N).
• Most patients demonstrated remarkable adaptation to their condition and prosthodontic rehabilitation, with rare severe temporomandibular disorder symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Maxillofacial prosthodontic rehabilitation leads to good patient adaptation, even with significant functional deficits.
• Objective measures of chewing function may not fully reflect patients' perceived ability or adaptation.
• Prosthodontic interventions are effective in managing maxillofacial defects and improving patient outcomes.