Denture Fit Research Articles

Comparative Study of Conventional Impressions vs Intraoral Scanning for Complete Denture Fabrication

ABSTRACT Background: Conventional impression techniques for complete denture fabrication, although traditional, often pose challenges regarding accuracy and patient comfort. Intraoral scanning offers a digital alternative that promises enhanced precision and patient satisfaction. This study aimed to compare the efficacy, accuracy, and patient outcomes between conventional impression methods and intraoral scanning for the fabrication of complete dentures. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 edentulous patients were randomly assigned to two groups: one group receiving conventional impressions (n = 50) and the other undergoing intraoral scanning (n = 50). The primary outcome measures included impression accuracy (assessed by comparing final denture fit), time efficiency (total clinical time from impression to denture delivery), and patient satisfaction (evaluated through a standardized questionnaire). Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-squared test for categorical data and t-tests for continuous variables. Results: The intraoral scanning group demonstrated significantly higher accuracy in denture fit, with 92% of patients reporting excellent fit compared to 74% in the conventional group (P < 0.05). Time efficiency was also enhanced in the intraoral group, with a reduction in total clinical time of 25%. Patient satisfaction scores were notably higher in the intraoral scanning group (8.6 ± 0.5 on a 10-point scale) compared to the conventional group (6.9 ± 1.0). No significant complications were reported in either group. Conclusion: Intraoral scanning proves to be a superior technique for the fabrication of complete dentures compared to conventional methods, offering better denture fit, reduced clinical time, and improved patient satisfaction. These findings suggest that intraoral scanning could replace traditional impression methods in clinical practice for edentulous patients.

Assessment of Adaptability and Linear Dimensional Changes of Two Heat Cure Denture Base Resin with Different Cooling Techniques: An In Vitro Study.

The current study was designed to assess the linear dimensional changes and adaptability of two heat-cured denture base resins using various cooling methods. To prepare a total of 90 acrylic resin samples (45 acrylic resin samples for each material), four rectangular stainless-steel plates measuring 25 × 25 × 10 mm were fabricated. For both groups, the material was put into the mold at the dough stage. Group I - SR Triplex Hot Heat Cure acrylic; group II - DPI Heat Cure acrylic. Both groups used the same curing procedure. One of the following three techniques was used to cool the material (15 samples from each material) once the curing cycle was finished: (A) water bath, (b) quenching, and (C) air. A traveling microscope was used to measure the distance between the markings on the acrylic samples. The data was recorded and statistically analyzed. In SR Triplex Hot heat cure acrylic material, the maximum linear dimensional changes were found in the quenching technique (0.242 ± 0.05), followed by the air technique (0.168 ± 0.11) and the least was found in the water bath technique (0.146 ± 0.01). In DPI Heat Cure acrylic material, the maximum linear dimensional changes were found in the quenching technique (0.284 ± 0.09), followed by the air technique (0.172 ± 0.18) and the least was found in the water bath technique (0.158 ± 0.10). There was a statistically significant difference found between these three cooling techniques. On comparison of adaptability, the water bath technique, the marginal gap SR Triplex Hot was 0.012 ± 0.02 and DPI Heat Cure was 0.013 ± 0.02. In the quenching technique, the marginal gap SR Triplex Hot was 0.019 ± 0.04 and DPI Heat Cure was 0.016 ± 0.04. In the air technique, the marginal gap SR Triplex Hot was 0.017 ± 0.01 and DPI Heat Cure was 0.019 ± 0.01. The present study concluded that among the different cooling methods, the water bath technique had the least linear dimensional change, followed by the air and quenching techniques. When comparing the materials, DPI Heat Cure acrylic resin showed a greater linear dimensional change than SR Triplex Hot heat cure acrylic resin. During polymerization, heat-cured acrylic resins experience dimensional changes. Shrinkage and expansion are dimensional changes that occur in heat-cured acrylic resins and have an impact on the occlusal relationship and denture fit. However, the denture base's material qualities and the different temperature variations it experiences during production may have an impact on this. How to cite this article: Kannaiyan K, Rathod A, Bhushan P, et al. Assessment of Adaptability and Linear Dimensional Changes of Two Heat Cure Denture Base Resin with Different Cooling Techniques: An In Vitro Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2024;25(3):241-244.

Do we recognize oral cancer? Primary professional delay in diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The occurrence and causes of primary professional delay in diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were examined. Factors related to initial diagnosis or malignancy suspicion were evaluated in patients with primary OSCC. The outcome variable was primary professional delay for missed suspicion of malignancy or wrong diagnosis or delayed referral. The primary predictor variable was active care-seeking. Secondary predictor variables were patients' symptoms and clinical findings. Primary professional delay was found in 9.5% of the 528 patients included. Professional delay was 6.6 times more likely to occur in patients actively seeking care than in those whose tumor was an incidental finding (95% CI 1.58-27.58, p = 0.010). Pain (OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.07-3.87, p = 0.031), ulceration (OR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.29-4.19, p = 0.005), denture fit problem (OR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.25-7.56, p = 0.014), and unhealed tooth extraction socket (OR = 29.6, 95% CI 8.89-98.71, p < 0.001) were significant predictors for primary professional delay. OSCC patients seek care actively. Primary professional delay affects the care of every tenth OSCC patient. The role of health care professionals is essential for early OSCC diagnosis, especially in urgent care. Clinicians' knowledge of the typical symptoms and findings of OSCC should be improved.

Interrelationship between Candida Colonization, Dentures, and Mucosal Tissue Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of Denture Stomatitis.

Despite being common, the pathogenesis of denture stomatitis (DS) is poorly known; thus, this study was conducted to examine the relationship between candida, dentures, and mucosal tissue inflammation. One hundred and twenty edentulous patients wearing a denture with clinical signs and symptoms of DS and 30 patients without DS as healthy were involved in the study. Patients with DS were divided into three groups according to Newton's classification and fungal colonies, and denture fit was assessed. No significant difference was observed between age, sex, and denture fit between the two groups (P > 0.05). The fungal colonies in patients with DS were significantly more than the controls. The majority of the patients with good denture fit had degree 1 (localized mucosal inflammation), while the majority of the patients with fair denture fit had degree 2 (diffuse inflammation on the denture bearing area) and the majority with poor denture fit had degree 3 (granular type) (P < 0.001). The fungal colonies were negative for the majority of degree 1 patients (57.1%), while they were positive for the majority of patients with degree 2 (61.3%) and degree 3 (63.2%) inflammation (P = 0.003). We concluded that the pathogenesis of DS is elusive. Multiple factors, including lack of hygiene, reduced salivary flow, poor denture care, and fit, provide an easy pathway for Candida strains to colonize dentures.

Methods of Evaluating Adaptation and Accuracy of Additive Manufactured Removable Partial Dentures: A Scoping Review

This study aimed to provide a comprehensive review of various recent methods that can be used to assess the fit and accuracy of additive-manufactured removable partial dentures (RPDs), focusing on 3D-printed RPDs. An electronic search of the English language literature from January 2000 to February 2022 was performed using four databases: Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost, using relevant keywords. The parameters of interest were extracted and tabulated. Of 936 retrieved studies, 26 studies were included. Most of the studies were laboratory studies, conducted between 2011 and 2022, did not include control group, used stone cast model as reference, used direct 3D printing method, and polished the final RPD framework. Methods of assessment can be divided into two categories: 1) qualitative assessment which is based mainly on visual inspection or tactile sense, and 2) quantitative assessment which includes optical assessment (with or without a registration material) and computerized assessment based on surface-matching software programs. In conclusion, computerized assessment using different surface matching software provides more accurate and precise quantitative assessment of denture fit and allows researcher and practitioner to detect minute dimensional changes that cannot be detected visually.

Patient Satisfaction with Upper and Lower Complete Dentures: A Service Evaluation Report.

The purpose of this questionnaire-based service evaluation was to assess patient satisfaction with complete dentures provided in a dental teaching hospital. Patients completed the self-administered questionnaire before, immediately after, and 2-months following provision of new complete dentures. The questionnaire consisted of the following sections: Patient characteristics, current denture history and satisfaction with the fit of upper/lower complete dentures, chewing ability, speech, and aesthetics. Descriptive analysis, chi-square test, student t-test, and 2-way-ANOVA were performed on satisfaction levels pre-and post-treatment to assess denture fit, chewing ability, speech, and appearance. Age and gender-wise satisfaction levels along with correlations and associations between patient satisfaction levels and various factors were assessed. 147 participants, including 91 males (61.9%) and 56 females (38.1%) completed the study. A statistically significant improvement in satisfaction scores was seen post-treatment in all domains (p⟨0.05), with most respondents showing great satisfaction. Overall, satisfaction levels were: Upper complete denture fit (82%), appearance (87%), speech (67%), chewing ability and lower complete denture fit (39%). A strong positive correlation was observed between the number of previous dentures used and patient satisfaction with upper denture fit (R=1). Denture replacement positively impacts the satisfaction of patients and improves complete denture acceptance.

Teeth and gums in diabetes

Teeth and gums in diabetes

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Relationship between Oral Function and Sarcopenia in Japanese Patients with Regular Dental Maintenance.

We aimed to clarify the relationship between oral function assessments regarding oral hypofunction and sarcopenia in patients who had completed treatment for organic dental problems, including oral pain, removable denture fit, and tooth loss. This cross-sectional study included 269 patients aged ≥65 years (mean age 74.9 ± 6.50 years, 133 men, 136 women) who visited a dental clinic between June 2019 and March 2021. We evaluated oral function and sarcopenia and analyzed their relationship using the Jonckheere–Terpstra test, Mantel–Haenszel trend test, and Poisson regression analysis. We diagnosed 132 (49.07%) patients with oral hypofunction, 30 (11.2%) with sarcopenia, and 24 (8.9%) with severe sarcopenia. The number of oral hypofunction items (prevalence rate ratio [PRR] = 1.39, 95%Wald = 0.11 to 0.56) was significantly associated with sarcopenia. For each of the items, tongue-lip motor function [ta] (PRR = 0.80, 95%Wald = −0.44 to −0.02)] [ka] (PRR = 0.76, 95%Wald = −0.53 to −0.03) and tongue pressure (PRR = 0.95, 95%Wald = −0.09 to −0.02) showed a significant association with sarcopenia. However, no significant association was found for other variables. Dentists should not only treat organic dental problems but also consider the relationship between oral function and sarcopenia.

Mouth preparation for complete dentures

The success of complete dentures is highly dependent on the anatomy of the oral cavity. Several conditions can affect the final denture fit. Disorders of the soft tissues, such as denture hyperplasia, denture stomatitis and mucosal pathology may play a role. There are also difficulties related to the shape of the bone, including excessively large undercuts/bony exostoses, tori, enlarged tuberosities and flabby ridges and other factors, such as xerostomia to be considered. The aim of this article is to help diagnose these conditions and to suggest ways of overcoming the individual problems with which patients present before starting denture construction. CPD/Clinical Relevance: The diagnosis of several oral conditions and their appropriate management may help achieve an optimal outcome when constructing complete dentures.

Associations of Tooth Loss, Denture Use, and Self-perceived Denture Fit with Frailty in Community-dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Study

Associations of Tooth Loss, Denture Use, and Self-perceived Denture Fit with Frailty <b> </b>in Community-dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Study

Factors Associated with Choking During Meals; a Risk Indicator for Repetitive Fevers in The Elderly Community

Background: Choking during meals is a common symptom in the elderly, however the factors associated with it have not been fully clarified. In this study, we examined the factors associated with choking during meals. Methods: The oral health status and practices that promote oral health conditions was surveyed in 1305 community dwelling elderly using a self-administered questionnaire. Eight items including satisfaction with their oral condition, denture fit, chewing ability, tooth brushing frequency, dental visits, exercises to train muscles for chewing and swallowing, choking during meals, and repetitive fever were selected for analysis. Results: 25.1% of the subjects experienced choking during meals, which was significantly associated with repetitive fever occurrence. Differences in satisfaction levels with their oral condition, denture fit, chewing ability, and tooth brushing frequency were observed between groups with and without choking. Age, satisfaction level, and chewing ability were significantly associated with choking during meals. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that choking during meals is a risk indicator for repetitive fever in the elderly living in community settings. Poor chewing ability and dissatisfaction with their oral condition were risk factors associated with choking. These results suggest that training the elderly to eat efficiently and safely and improving oral conditions is necessary for those who suffer from choking during meals to prevent repetitive fever.

Total CAD/CAM Supported Method for Manufacturing Removable Complete Dentures.

The incorporation of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology into complete denture fabrication brings about several advantages to the fabrication process, providing better predictability of the desired outcomes and high accuracy of denture fit, mainly because the milling of prepolymerized acrylic resin eliminates the shrinkage of the acrylic base. Also, there is a decrease in the porosity when compared to a conventionally processed denture, and consequently there is a decrease in the retention of Candida albicans on the denture base. The presented workflow for complete denture fabrication presents a totally wax-free manufacturing process, combining rapid prototyping (RP) and rapid milling. With the presented technique, the maxillomandibular relation (MMR) and the ideal setup of the tooth arrangement are developed by using occlusion rims and trial setup made with RP. For the definitive final denture, the denture base and the basal surfaces of the conventional denture teeth were milled according to the individual clinical situation. Posteriorly, the teeth were adapted and bonded into the milled sockets of the milled base.

Patient and treatment-related risk factors for osteoradionecrosis of the jaw in patients with head and neck cancer

The purpose of this study was to evaluate risk factors for and the incidence of osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the jaw in patients with head and neck cancer. This study was a retrospective analysis of the risk for ORN and outcome for 149 of 540 patients with head and neck cancer of the oral cavity (65%), oropharynx (26%), or other head and neck sites (9%) treated with radiotherapy between 2004 and 2009. ORN was graded according to Late Effects of Normal Tissues/Somatic Objective Management Analytic Scale (LENT/SOMA) criteria. Within a median follow-up of 41 months (95% confidence interval: 27.4-54.6), 38 patients (25.5%) had developed ORN, 37 patients (25%) had a local recurrence, and 53 patients (36%) had died. The median time to diagnosis of ORN was 14.5 months (range: 3-80), and 79% were diagnosed within 2 years of RT. Eleven of these patients had undergone previous mandibular surgery. Univariate significant risk factors for ORN were any comorbidity, poor oral hygiene, pre-radiotherapy osteotomy, close tumor-to-bone proximity, post-radiotherapy dentoalveolar surgery (DAS), DAS without sufficient wound closure, alcohol consumption, and denture pressure sores. In multivariate analysis, comorbidities, pre-radiotherapy mandibular surgery, poor oral hygiene, and insufficient DAS remained significant. Reducing the risk of ORN calls for maintaining optimal oral hygiene, ensuring good denture fit, receiving proper training in DAS, and helping patients to stop drinking and smoking.

English

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship of dentition status, defined by the number of occluding pairs of natural teeth (OPNT) and removable denture fit, to food diversity among older Japanese adults. The study participants were 268 Japanese (mean age: 81.7 years) classified into four groups: (i) good dentition (n = 91; ≥5 OPNT), (ii) compromised dentition (n = 43; <5 OPNT), (iii) well-fitting dentures (n = 104; self-reported), and (iv) ill-fitting denture (n = 30; self-reported). Food diversity was assessed as a measure of dietary quality using the 11-item Food Diversity Score Kyoto (FDSK-11), which evaluates frequency of consumption of 11 main food groups (grains, potatoes, beans and soybean products, meat, fish and shellfish, eggs, milk and dairy products, vegetables, seaweed, nuts and fruits). Multivariable analysis of the differences in FDSK-11 score ranging from 0 to 11, with a higher score indicating greater food diversity, among the four groups was conducted using linear regression models with robust standard errors. The compromised dentition and self-perceived ill-fitting denture groups had significantly lower FDSK-11 scores than the good dentition group after adjusting for confounders (P < 0.05). A less-varied diet, as indicated by low FDSK-11 score, was observed in participants with fewer OPNT or ill-fitting dentures. Impaired dentition was associated with poor diet quality among older Japanese. Key words: Epidemiology, elderly, diet, dental health.

A new quantitative screening method for removable prosthesis using pressure-indicating paste.

Aim of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the adaptation of the denture base to the mucosa using a non-setting pressure-indicating paste and to examine the relationship between quality of fit and the need for denture relining. A total of 123 dentures from 70 partially edentulous patients were studied. Examination paste extruded from the tip of the 18-G needle was applied to those denture surfaces contacting the alveolar crest. The denture was manually positioned with all clasps engaged on abutment teeth, and adaptation was assessed through paste distribution. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyse variables associated with diagnosing the need for a denture reline, producing odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. The spread width was inversely proportional to the gap between the denture and mucosa. Regression analysis revealed statistically significant associations between the need for a denture reline and both the paste spread width and the duration of denture use. According to ROC curve analysis of the 'reline' and 'non-reline' groups, the need for a denture reline was indicated at a paste spread width of 2·0mm or less. At this 2·0-mm threshold, the sensitivity was 85·1% and the specificity was 75·0%. The fit of removable denture bases was quantitatively evaluated by measuring the spread width of non-setting pressure-indicating paste extruded onto denture fit surfaces. The results suggest that the paste spread width is a useful parameter for discriminating the need for a denture reline.

Oral health status: relationship to nutrient and food intake among 80-year-old Japanese adults.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship of oral health status defined on the basis of presence of posterior occluding pairs (POPs) and adequacy of removable denture fit as determined by self-report to nutrient and food intake among older Japanese. The subjects were 353 Japanese aged 80 years in 2008 and were classified into four groups according to the number of POPs, defined as pairs of occluding natural, restored, or fixed prosthetic postcanine teeth (range: 0-8) and removable denture status. The groups were: (i) good dentition (n = 56; 8 POPs and no removable prosthesis), (ii) well-fitting dentures (n = 158; <8 POPs with self-reported good-fitting dentures), (iii) ill-fitting dentures (n = 70; <8 POPs with self-reported ill-fitting dentures), and (iv) compromised dentition (n = 69; <8 POPs and no removable prosthesis). Multivariable analysis of the differences in nutrient and food intake outcome variables which were collected via validated food frequency questionnaire among the four oral health status groups was conducted using general linear models. Results: Intake of multiple nutrients was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the group with ill-fitting dentures or compromised dentition than in the good dentition group. Vegetable, fish, and shellfish consumption was significantly lower in the ill-fitting dentures or compromised dentition groups. No significant differences were seen in dietary intake between the well-fitting dentures and good dentition groups. Conclusions: Dietary intake was poorer in those with self-perceived ill-fitting dentures or fewer POPs than among those having all POPs. Regular dental care to maintain intact dentition, as well as dental treatment to replace missing teeth and ensure adequate denture fit and function, may be important to the diet intake and subsequent nutritional status of older Japanese.

CLIMATE - A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF PRIMARY GRAFT FAILURE IN BUCCAL MUCOSAL GRAFT URETHROPLASTY

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to determine the impact of closure versus non-closure of the buccal mucosal graft harvest site in men undergoing urethral reconstruction. The primary endpoint was postoperative oral pain. Secondary endpoints were time to return to regular diet, oral numbness, change in salivation, and time to full mouth opening. METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients have been randomized to either closure of the donor site or leaving the donor site open. All procedures were performed by one surgeon (KR). Postoperatively, questionnaires were completed daily for the first week and monthly for 6 months. The questionnaire consisted of a visual analog pain scale, as well as questions pertaining to return to regular diet, salivation, numbness, and ability to fully open mouth. Independent samples T-test and Chi-square analysis was performed on continuous and categorical data, respectively. RESULTS: Twenty-four and 26 patients were randomized to the open and closed groups. The mean ages were similar, 44 in the open and 43 in the closed group. There were no infectious or bleeding complications in either group. One patient in the closed group reported a change in denture fit post operatively. Post operative pain demonstrated a trend favoring the open group at postoperative day one (4.1 vs 2.2 p=0.07). At 6 months, there was no difference in pain scores between groups (0.2 vs 0.3 p=0.63). Return to regular diet was sooner for the open group at postoperative day one (69 vs 31 % p=0.01). At 6 months, all patients were tolerating regular diet. Numbness at harvest site was present in 62% open versus 93% closed (p=0.05) patients postoperative day one. At 6 months, 20% open vs 40% closed patients (p=0.15) reported persistent oral numbness. Salivary changes did not differ between groups at either time point. Full mouth opening at postoperative day one was reported by 77% open and 14% closed (p=0.001). At 6 months, 10% open and 8% closed reported a decrease in full mouth opening since surgery (p=0.81). CONCLUSIONS: The data from our randomized controlled trial suggest that leaving the buccal mucosa harvest site open may lead to lower reported pain scores, earlier return to full diet, and earlier return to full mouth opening. At the 6 months endpoint there may be a decrease in harvest site numbness for patients in the open group.

Physical properties of a new denture lining material containing a fluoroalkyl methacrylate polymer

A new fluoride-containing, methacrylate-based denture lining material has been introduced. Because of the fluoride content, this material is expected to demonstrate low water sorption and solubility and high stain resistance, but these attributes remain untested. This study investigated a wide range of clinically relevant properties for a new fluoroalkyl methacrylate denture base liner product (Maxfit) and compared these properties with those of 3 other commercial products. Four denture lining materials were tested: Maxfit, Kooliner, Tokuyama Rebase (fast set), and Denture Liner. Water sorption (microg/mm(3)) and solubility (microg/mm(3)) were tested according to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard No. 1567. Stain resistance was evaluated by measuring color change (DeltaE) after immersion in 2 solutions (coffee and turmeric solution). Microhardness was determined using Knoop indentation testing according to American National Standards Institute/American Dental Association Specification No. 17. Relined denture fit was evaluated by measuring the gap (mm) occurring between the relined denture base and the cast after polymerization. Shear bond strength (MPa) to denture base materials (polymethyl methacrylate, cobalt-chromium alloy, and titanium) was tested according to ISO Standard No. 11405. Data were statistically analyzed using nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis (alpha=.05) and Mann-Whitney U tests combined with the Bonferroni correction (alpha=.008). Maxfit showed the lowest water sorption and solubility (8.0 +/- 0.1, 0.5 +/- 0.1 microg/mm(3), respectively). The color change from coffee immersion of Maxfit was significantly less than Tokuyama Rebase and Denture Liner, and significantly less than Tokuyama Rebase and Denture Liner in a turmeric solution (P<.001). Knoop hardness of Maxfit (8.66 +/- 0.51) was higher than Kooliner and Tokuyama Rebase (P<.001). The relined denture fit using Maxfit was not different from other materials. Significantly higher shear bond strength to denture base resin was noted for Maxfit compared to Tokuyama Rebase and Denture Liner (P<.008). The new fluoroalkyl methacrylate-based denture liner (Maxfit) showed the lowest water sorption and solubility, and superior stain resistance. In spite of the addition of the fluoride content, this product exhibited no deterioration in physical properties, such as surface hardness, fit of the relined denture, and shear bond strengths to denture base materials tested.

Relationship between the Volume of Masticatory Muscle and Volume of the Mandibular Region Corresponding to the Denture Base in Japanese Edentulous Mandible

The volume of masticatory muscle and volume of the mandibular region corresponding to the denture base (V. M. D. B.) of edentulous Japanese cadavers were measured using Spiral X-ray CT to assess the correlation between masticatory muscles and V. M. D. B.. For the results, the average volume was the highest for the masseter (15.06 ± 7.12 cm3, n=32, followed by the medial pterygoid (6.72 ±2.94 cm3, n=32 and lateral pterygoid (5.74 ±2.76 cm3, n=32. The average volume of the mandible of the male cadavers was 52.69 ±10.01 cm3 (n=18), and that of female cadavers was 36.11 ±6.22 cm3 (n=14). The average volume of the V. M. D. B. of male cadavers was 6.58 ±2.79 cm3 (n=18), and that of female cadavers was 3.51 ±1.36 cm3 (n=14). The relationship of the masticatory muscles with the volume of the mandible and V. M. D. B. was assessed statistically, and the results showed that the volume of the mandible and V. M. D. B. correlated with the volumes of the medial and lateral pterygoids, but not with the volume of the masseter. The results suggest that various factors may be involved in the relationship between muscle and mandible volumes, and poor denture fit or misuse may play a major role. And if prosthetical factors play a major role in anatomical structure, the volumes of the medial and lateral pterygoids are unlikely to be affected by the use of dentures, but the volume of the masseter can be affected by denture use.

Low dietary quality among older adults with self-perceived ill-fitting dentures

Objective To examine dietary quality and nutrient intakes of participants wearing dentures with and without poor fit as determined by questionnaire and dental exam. Design Nutrient intakes, Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score, and serum nutrient values were examined among individuals wearing either adequate- or poor-fitting dentures and individuals who had at least 18 teeth. Subjects/setting Data was collected from 4,820 participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey ages 50 years and older with at least 18 teeth (n=3,207) or those wearing dentures (n=1,613), who responded to a questionnaire about denture fit and had their dentures evaluated by a dentist. Statistical analyses performed Analysis of covariance and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to examine associations between individuals fully dentate, wearing good- or ill-fitting dentures, and nutritional status indicators. Results The group with self-perceived ill-fitting dentures compared with the group with natural teeth had significantly lower total HEI (66.5 vs 68.5 P<.002), vegetables (6.3 vs 6.8 P<.01), and variety scores (7.8 vs 8.2 P<.02); lower ascorbic acid ( P<.009) and carotene intakes ( P<.004). The group with self-perceived good-fitting dentures did not differ significantly from the dentate group. However, both groups wearing dentures had significantly lower serum levels of vitamins C and E, beta carotene, folate, lutein, and lycopene/zeaxanthin compared with the dentate group. Applications/conclusions Dietary quality and intake of certain nutrients was poorer among the group with self-perceived ill-fitting dentures than among those wearing adequate dentures or those with natural teeth. Administering a simple questionnaire to patients about their perceptions of denture fit may be useful in identifying denture wearers at increased risk of dietary inadequacy.