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The association between mucosal pain and subjective masticatory function in patients with partial removable dental prostheses
Author(s) -
Fueki Kenji,
YoshidaKohno Eiko,
Inamochi Yuka,
Wakabayashi Noriyuki
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of oral rehabilitation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-2842
pISSN - 0305-182X
DOI - 10.1111/joor.12841
Subject(s) - masticatory force , medicine , dentistry , mastication , removable partial denture , orofacial pain , dentures , orthodontics , physical therapy
Background Improvement of masticatory function is critical in prosthetic treatment. Multiple factors are related to patients' perception of chewing ability in denture wearers. However, the associations between such factors and chewing ability have not yet been fully elucidated. Objective To investigate the association between mucosal pain and subjective masticatory function in patients with partial removable dental prostheses (PRDPs). Methods This cross‐sectional study included 333 consecutive patients with PRDPs (mean age 71.2 years, male 33.3%) who were recruited from the prosthetic clinic of a dental hospital in Japan. Patients' perception of chewing ability was evaluated using a food intake questionnaire consisting of 20 items, and chewing difficulty was rated by patients using an 11‐point numerical scale. Participants rated the pain intensity of the denture‐supporting mucosa and oral dryness while chewing. In addition, the bilateral maximal biting force (MBF) was recorded. A structural equation model was used to identify the factors associated with chewing ability and chewing difficulty. Results The model indicated that mucosal pain, oral dryness, the number of occluding pairs, the denture type (interim/definitive PRDPs) and the MBF were significant independent predictors of chewing ability and chewing difficulty ( P < 0.01). Conclusions Our findings suggest that mucosal pain is a risk factor for impairment of subjective masticatory function in patients with PRDPs. It is clinically important to consider the denture design and to select denture base materials with regard to the prevention of mucosal pain.