A study on the evaluation of masticatory ability in osseointegrated implants applied to lower molar region

Masticatory function was investigated in 7 subjects (5 women and 2 men) with unilateral OIB in their lower molar region. Masticatory movement and myoelectric discharge were analyzed. To examine occlusal contact, the closely occlusal contact area and occluding forces were investigated. The results from the OIB side were compared with the ones from the opposite side. In all subjects, there were no significant differences in the parameters of mandibular movement between chewing the test foods on the OIB side and chewing them on the opposite side. In 6 out of 7 subjects, the closely occlusal area of the interocclusal space differed by less than 1.0 mm between the OIB side and the opposite side in the molar region, and the occluding forces between them were similar. In 6 out of 7 subjects, the masticatory sensations were also similar between the two sides. There were no significant differences between the OIB side and the opposite side in the parameters of mandibular movement, the condition of occlusal contact and the sensation of mastication in patients who were treated with unilateral OIB in the lower molar region. The data seem to suggest that there is little difference between the masticatory ability of OIB and that of natural dentition.