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Chewing efficiency, bite force and oral health‐related quality of life with narrow diameter implants ‐ a prospective clinical study: results after one year
Author(s) -
Enkling Norbert,
Saftig Marcus,
Worni Andreas,
MericskeStern Regina,
Schimmel Martin
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
clinical oral implants research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.407
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1600-0501
pISSN - 0905-7161
DOI - 10.1111/clr.12822
Subject(s) - medicine , oral health , quality of life (healthcare) , implant , dentistry , prosthesis , prospective cohort study , orthodontics , surgery , nursing
Objective This prospective study aimed to investigate the evolution of chewing efficiency, maximum voluntary bite force ( MBF ) and oral health‐related quality of life ( OHRQoL ) in edentulous patients treated with narrow diameter implants ( NDI s) over the course of 1 year. Materials and Methods Four NDI s ( MDI ® , 3M ESPE , diameter 1.8 mm) were placed interforaminally in 20 edentulous patients. They were immediately loaded by converting the existing prosthesis into an implant overdenture. Participants were examined six times pre‐ and postoperatively [baseline ( BL ) to week 52 (w52)]. Chewing efficiency was evaluated with a colour‐mixing ability test by evaluation of the standard deviation of hue ( VOH , ViewGum©). MBF was measured using a digital force gauge. OHRQoL was determined with the Oral Health Impact Profile ( OHIPG 49). Nonparametric Brunner–Langer models were applied for statistical testing. Results The study failed to demonstrate an effect on chewing efficiency. MBF increased continuously during the observation period (medians: MBF [N]@ BL = 46.6 [iqr 50.1]; MBF [N]@w52 = 103.9 [iqr 76.0]; P = 0.002). OHRQoL increased steeply after implant loading and continued improving (medians: BL ∑ OHIPG 49 = 31 [iqr 40.0]; w4 ∑ OHIPG 49 = 11.5 [iqr 19.5]; w52 ∑ OHIPG 49 = 6 [iqr 13.0], P < 0.001). Conclusions The stabilisation of a lower complete prosthesis with four NDI s is a feasible minimally invasive and economical approach to improve oral function and OHRQoL , especially in elderly patients with limited bone support. Functional benefits might be more evident if patients receive chewing instructions. Larger studies need to confirm a positive effect on chewing efficiency and develop long‐term maintenance solutions if patients become frail because no easy downgrading approaches of one‐piece titanium implants exist.