Masticatory afficiency in denture wearers with bilateral balanced occlusion and canine guidance

Arcelino Farias Neto,Wilson Mestriner Junior,Adriana da Fonte Porto Carreiro

doi:10.1590/s0103-64402010000200013

Abstract

The maintenance of masticatory function is especially important for patients wearing complete dentures due to their limitations. Thus, the bilateral balanced occlusal concept is used to achieve greater masticatory efficiency. However, a critical review of the literature reveals that there is not sufficient scientific evidence to support bilateral balanced occlusion as the most appropriate occlusal concept in complete dentures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the masticatory efficiency in complete dentures wearers with bilateral balanced occlusion and canine guidance. A double-blinded controlled crossover clinical trial was conducted. The sample was composed by 24 edentulous patients who wore sets of complete dentures with both occlusal concepts during equal periods of 3 months. Objective data were collected through the masticatory efficiency test performed by the colorimetric method with the beads, in which capsules of a synthetic material enclosing fuchsine-containing granules were used. Subjective data were recorded by patient's ratings of their chewing function. No significant statistical difference was found for masticatory efficiency (p=0.095) between the two occlusal concepts studied. The results suggest that bilateral balanced occlusion does not improve the masticatory efficiency in complete denture wearers.

Highlights

The treatment with complete dentures (CD) aims to restore patient’s masticatory function and speaking ability, leading to a better facial appearance and social living
One of these concepts is the bilateral balanced occlusion (BBO), which is considered by many authors as fundamental for treatment success, as it would be able to provide greater retention and stability than the canine guidance (CG)
Data were collected by the masticatory efficiency test and questionnaires at 3 and 6 months after denture insertion by one examiner who was not informed about the occlusal concepts

Summary

Introduction

The treatment with complete dentures (CD) aims to restore patient’s masticatory function and speaking ability, leading to a better facial appearance and social living. There is a natural reduction in the secretion of gastric juice with aging, so the right preparation of the food bolus in mouth is essential This step of the digestive process deserves special attention in edentulous patients due to limitations of conventional dentures, since the masticatory efficiency of CD wearers is only 16% to 50% that of dentate patients [1]. Traditional techniques have been used in CD construction without taking into account the needs and attitudes of individual patients [3] One of these concepts is the bilateral balanced occlusion (BBO), which is considered by many authors as fundamental for treatment success, as it would be able to provide greater retention and stability than the canine guidance (CG). Better masticatory function is attributed to the BBO, since it brings more grinding surfaces in contact at each movement [4]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion