Masticatory Performance Research Articles

Difference of Masticatory Performance between Body Mass Index Categories on Students of Universitas Sriwijaya

Introduction: Mastication is a complex rhythmical activity that requires coordination of the neuro-musculature to prepare the food for swallowing. Masticatory performance can be influenced by some factors, such as bite force. Underweight and overweight/obese persons had reported having low bite force. The purpose of this study was to compare the masticatory performance between underweight, normal weight, and overweight/obese adults. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 students of Universitas Sriwijaya were included (age: 21-25 years). Subjects were grouped according to their BMI: group I (underweight), group II (normal weight), and group III (overweight/obese). Masticatory performance was evaluated with the sieves method. During the masticatory performance test, subjects were asked to chew 3-gram peanuts for 20 masticatory strokes, which was done three times. Peanut particles that had been chewed were filtered with a sieve. The volume of peanut particles passed through the sieve was divided by the volume of total particles and multiplied by 100 percent, which the result was noted as a masticatory performance score. The One-way ANOVA test was employed to identify differences between groups. P values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The underweight group showed the smallest masticatory performance score, followed by the overweight/obese group, while the normal weight group showed the highest score. There was a significant difference in masticatory performance score between the underweight and normal weight group (p<0,05), while the rest were not showed a significant difference (p>0,05). Conclusion: The underweight and overweight/obesity groups had a lower masticatory performance compared to the normal weight group.

Two or four implants for maxillary overdentures in edentulous patients: 1-year results of a randomized controlled trial.

Maxillary implant overdenture therapy is a good treatment option for treating patients experiencing problems with their conventional maxillary denture. Retaining the overdenture with four implants and a bar attachment system serves as the current gold standard. However, there is a demand for less costly and less invasive treatment options. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to compare marginal bone level change (MBLC), implant and overdenture survival, clinical, masticatory, and patient-related outcomes (PROMs) of maxillary implant overdentures with either two or four implants and a bar attachment system. Forty edentulous participants were randomly allocated to two groups (n = 20), to receive either two or four implants in the maxilla. After healing, all the participants received an implant overdenture retained by a bar attachment system. All the participants were evaluated 1 and 12 months after overdenture placement. The primary outcome was MBLC. Secondary outcomes were implant and overdenture survival, clinical, masticatory, and PROMs. The outcomes were analyzed using parametric and non-parametric tests. MBLC was -0.03 mm in the 2-implant group and -0.16 mm in the 4-implant group (p = 0.21). Implant survival was 83.3% in the 2-implant group and 94.4% in the 4-implant group (p = 0.03). The median pocket depth change and clinical outcomes were low, and masticatory performance along with PROMs improved in both groups and did not differ significantly between them. Maxillary 4-implant overdentures perform better than maxillary 2-implant overdentures with a bar attachment system in terms of implant and overdenture survival and therefore remains the gold standard. However, both overdentures perform similarly in terms of MBLC, clinical, masticatory, and PROMs.

Upcycling waste phosphogypsum as an alternative filler for asphalt pavement

Mineral fillers are an essential component of asphalt concrete. Significant amounts of mineral fillers are used in constructing asphalt pavement. However, mineral fillers are an important non-renewable natural resource which needs to be preserved. In addition, the production of mineral fillers also consumes much energy and affects environment negatively. This study set out to explore the feasibility of upcycling waste phosphogypsum as an alternative filler for asphalt concrete. The phosphogypsum was first pretreated at 60, 160, and 800 °C, and the crystalline phase of phosphogypsum was evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Phosphogypsum with three crystalline phases and limestone powder were then mixed with base asphalt binders to prepare asphalt mastic at the filler-asphalt ratio of 1:1 at 150 °C. The chemical structural changes and thermal stability features of phosphogypsum asphalt mastic were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetry (TG). The viscoelasticity, high-temperature performance, and fatigue characteristics of different asphalt mastics were measured by frequency sweep, multiple stress creep and recovery (MSCR), and linear amplitude sweep (LAS), respectively. The results indicate that phosphogypsum had different crystalline phases after pretreatment at different temperatures. The addition of phosphogypsum as fillers in asphalt is mainly a physical hardening effect. The 600 °C residual mass ratio of asphalt mastic prepared from phosphogypsum pretreated at 60, 160, and 800 °C was 53.9%, 56.2%, and 58.6%. As the temperature increased, the different crystallized water states in phosphogypsum were decomposed. The replacement of mineral powder with phosphogypsum can improve the high-temperature properties of asphalt mastic and the percent recovery (R), while the nonrecoverable creep compliance (Jnr) was reduced. At the extremely high-temperature of 70 °C, the improvement of the high-temperature performance of phosphogypsum asphalt mastic is more evident than that of 46 °C. Furthermore, the addition of phosphogypsum also reduced the fatigue life of asphalt mastic. This study is expected to paving the road for the upcycling of waste phosphogypsum as an alternative filler in asphalt pavement.

Feasibility of using a protein gel for masticatory assessment of older people

Masticatory function plays a crucial role in the breakdown of food for bolus formation and safe swallowing. Chewable silicone gel particles (Optosil) were used for assessing masticatory performance by dentists but such particles were found not suitable for older people due to its hard and dry texture and unfavored flavor. Therefore, with fast growing number of older people who have eating and swallowing difficulties, seeking a suitable model food for masticatory performance assessment becomes an important issue. This study was to develop a glucose-containing model food system for reliable evaluation of the masticatory performance. Three formulas with different amount of gelatin were used to prepare the gels and their textural properties were analyzed. A glucometer was used to measure glucose concentration in saliva. Both young adults (23.5 ± 1.1 years) and older subjects (72.9 ± 5.4 years) were asked to perform mastication tests to verify the reliability of the method. Results showed that the Gel-15% sample gave the best performance and was selected as the test food. Reliability of the current method was proved by the classical standard of Optosil method. Moreover, our findings indicated that masticatory performance was significantly positively correlated with bite force in both young and older adults (young subjects: r = 0.874, p < 0.01; older subjects: r = 0.638, p < 0.01). In conclusions, this study suggested that the newly method could accurately and efficiently measure the masticatory performance of older people.

Influence of Prosthodontic Rehabilitation Using Zygomatic Implants in Covid 19 Related Mucormycosis (Rhino-Orbital-Cerebral) Maxillectomy Patients Upon Post-Operative Stress, Anxiety and Functional Impairment: A Prospective Cohort Study.

To determine the influence of prosthodontic rehabilitation using zygomatic implants in partial maxillectomy upon post-operative stress, anxiety and functional impairment, due to covid 19 associated rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM). Twenty maxillectomy patients fulfilling study criterion, received zygomatic implants (ZI) (quad zygoma) (ZDI Simpladent, Switzerland) retained/supported complete maxillary denture. Assessment of stress, anxiety, masticatory performance and speech were determined using diurnal salivary cortisol level, Appearance Anxiety Inventory, multiple sieve technique and auditory perception analysis, respectively. Data were recorded at 6 different stages of rehabilitation (after maxillectomy, implant placement, and after prosthesis delivery (1 week, 1 month, 6 months and 1 year)). Demographic data were expressed as frequency distribution, while mean values were used to find differences between various rehabilitation stages using Friedman and chi-square test with statistical significance value at p < 0.05. Average daily salivary cortisol levels declined from post maxillectomy (22.80 ± 0.902) to 1 year after prosthesis wearing (8.65 ± 0.985), indicating stress reduction after ZI rehabilitation. Mean scores for appearance anxiety reduced from pre-prosthetic rehabilitation (27.350 ± 3.030) to 1 year (8.950 ± 0.887) following prosthesis wearing. Functional parameters for mastication and speech also improved significantly during the course of rehabilitation. All differences between pre-prosthetic to 1-year stage after prosthesis wearing were found to be statistically significant at p < 0.05. Post ROCM maxillectomy cases after prosthetic rehabilitation using zygomatic implants showed significant improvement in the psychological (stress and anxiety) as well as function (mastication and speech) characteristics. Rehabilitation post ROCM maxillectomy with the present approach of fixed prosthesis using zygomatic implants mitigates deficient mastication and speech. It also impacts positively on patient psychology by decreasing stress and anxiety.

Functional performance and impact on the quality of life of three treatment strategies for mandibular edentulism: Results of a parallel 3-group cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThis parallel cross-sectional study compared masticatory function and patient-centered outcomes among 3 removable treatment strategies for mandibular edentulism. MethodsThirty-six edentulous participants rehabilitated using 3 removable treatment strategies for mandibular edentulism were allocated to one of the three groups (n=12): CCD (control), 2-IMO, and 3-IMO. Narrow diameter implants were installed using single-stage surgery and conventionally loaded with stud abutments. After 3 months of usage, the quality of life, maximum bite force, and masticatory function were evaluated. Data were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc pairwise Mann–Whitney tests with Bonferroni correction (α=0.05). ResultsThe 2-IMO and 3-IMO wearers did not show significant differences in any outcome, except for the 2 domains of 3-IMO wearers quality of life that obtained better Pain and General Performance scores. Both IMO groups presented significantly higher maximum bite force than CCD wearers. The 2-IMO wearers showed superior outcomes to the CCD group in all outcomes of the masticatory performance test and the X50, B and ME5.6 outcomes of the swallowing threshold test (p = 0.01), while 3-IMO participants only showed superior masticatory performance in terms of lower X50 values (19.86%, p = 0.02) and higher ME 2.8 (141.15%, p = 0.04) than CCD wearers. ConclusionsCompared to 2-IMO wearers, 3-IMO wearers report superior impact of treatment on daily living activities in the Pain and General Performance domains. 2-IMO and 3-IMO wearers showed no significant differences between them for all evaluated bite force and masticatory function parameters. Clinical SignificanceAlthough overdentures retained by 3 implants (3-IMO) provide biomechanical advantages over those retained by 2 implants (2-IMO), superior clinical and functional effectiveness is not yet proven.

ORAL HEALTH STATUS OF INDONESIAN CHILDREN ( Scoping Review )

Background: Teeth and mouth are important organs that must&#x0D; be kept clean. People still think that the oral cavity is a small part&#x0D; of the body so that awareness of maintaining oral health is still&#x0D; low. Oral health plays an important role in general health. Many&#x0D; studies have reported various risk factors associated with the&#x0D; incidence of dental caries . Objective : To determine the oral&#x0D; health status of Indonesian children. Method : The method used&#x0D; is to collect sources of information obtained from bibliographic&#x0D; searching taken from Pubmed , Google Scholar and Science&#x0D; Direct. Result : Oral health status is generally expressed in terms&#x0D; of prevalence dental caries and periodontal disease. Conclusion: &#x0D; Oral health status and oral health behavior differ at different&#x0D; ages. Dental caries has several negative effects, particularly on&#x0D; children's lives, through reduced masticatory performance and&#x0D; general appearance, and this is reflected in their growth and&#x0D; development.

A Novel Indigenously Developed Device to Measure Bite Force.

In stomatology, the evaluation of bite power is crucial. It is considered a significant objective approach to evaluating masticatory performance. Bite force has become a significant outcome analysis index for various therapies in dentistry research. Presently several devices being used globally have their graces and faults. They are costly and also not available easily to the general dental practitioner. Development of a novel indigenous instrument for the measurement of human bite force. This paper describes an indigenously developed and researched instrument to measure human bite force. The sensor data (change in electronic resistance under applied force) will be read by the microprocessor and converted to force values in newton. The bite force result will be instantly displayed on the screen of the instrument and the device with which it is connected. The developed instrument is handy and user-friendly and can measure bite force accurately and repeatedly. In this research paper, an economical, lightweight, user-friendly, accurate, and reproducible human bite force measurement device is explained, which has been developed indigenously.

Evaluation of masticatory performance by motion capture analysis of jaw movement.

The assessment of masticatory performance (MP) is conducted in hospitals, but is difficult to perform in nursing facilities that lack specialists in dysphagia. To select the appropriate food textures in nursing practice, a simple method of evaluating the MP should be developed. The purpose of this study was to investigate motion parameters that influence MP by motion capture analysis of maxillofacial movement on chewing gummy jelly in healthy adults. The subjects were 50 healthy adults. The state of chewing gummy jelly was photographed using a high-speed camera. Simultaneously, we evaluated the amount of glucose extracted (AGE) obtained with gummy jelly as a reference value for MP. The subjects were divided into two groups: normal and low masticatory groups (NG and LG, respectively) based on the AGE. The cycle of mastication was classified into 3 phases: closing phase (CP), transition phase (TP), and opening phase (OP) through motion capture analysis of the video photographed. Parameters of jaw movement, and their associations with the AGE were examined. The transition phase rate (TR), and opening phase rate (OR) were correlated with the AGE. Furthermore, the TR in the NG was significantly higher than in the LG, whereas the OR was significantly lower than in the LG. The age, TR, and Opening velocity were significant independent variables. Motion capture technology facilitated the analysis of jaw movement. The results suggested that MP can be evaluated by analyzing the TP and OP rates.

Rheological properties and phase behaviour degradation of asphalt mastics under cyclic temperature variations

ABSTRACT Asphalt pavements are continuously subjected to cyclic temperature variations induced by varying day–night and seasonal temperatures. However, the effect of thermal cycling on asphalt materials has not been thoroughly documented. This study conducted accelerated thermal cycling tests on asphalt mastics to simulate the environmental temperature variation. The evolution of the rheological properties and phase behaviors under cyclic temperature variations was clarified. The temperature factors sensitive to damage were identified by establishing the quantitative relationship between the cyclic temperature parameters and these properties. Results demonstrated that, as the expansion of cyclic temperature ranges, the three asphalt mastics gradually lost their viscosity properties and became increasingly elastic. Thermal cycling increased the stiffness and high temperature deformation resistance of the three asphalt mastics, but significantly reduced their stress relaxation capability. The phase structures were degraded upon thermal cycling, weakening the asphalt-aggregate interaction. The temperature difference and cyclic high temperature were the primary factors affecting the rheological performance of the asphalt mastics. SBS modified asphalt mastic displayed remarkable resistance to thermal cycling, demonstrating its potential for application in regions with frequent temperature fluctuations. This research can help us understand the evolution of asphalt pavement performance in areas with frequent temperature changes at a macro-level.

Evaluation of Thermal and Rheological Properties of Phase Change Material-Incorporated Asphalt Mastic with Porous Fillers

Incorporating phase change material (PCM) into paving materials can regulate the pavement temperature, improve the pavement durability, and mitigate the heat-island effects. In this research, porous fillers were used as the PCM carrier, and the thermal and rheological behaviors of the asphalt mastic with the PCM were evaluated. Two different carrier materials (diatomite and expanded perlite) and four types of PCMs were used in the study. The candidate filler, PCM, and proper blending ratios were determined based on the results of scanning electron microscope image analysis, the filter paper test, and the temperature sweep test. The thermal and rheological behaviors of the mastics with PCMs were further evaluated with different filler replacement ratios. Thermal analysis through a differential scanning calorimetry test, thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity test, and real-time temperature performance test were performed on the asphalt mastics. Rheological tests, including the complex shear modulus test, the bending beam rheometer test, and the linear amplitude sweep test, were also conducted. The modified mastics were found to have high heat capacity with the latent heat storage ability. The rheological analyses showed that with the addition of polyethylene glycol, while the low-temperature performance of the asphalt mastics was improved, the performance at intermediate and high temperatures was not adversely affected by the PCM.

Assessment and Improvement of Masticatory Performance in Frail Older People: A Narrative Review.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the estimated number of older adults is around 962 million and is projected to increase to 2.1 billion by 2050. The oral frailty concept is associated with gradual oral function loss in relation to aging. There is a need to emphasize the improvement of oral function based on an evaluation of masticatory performance in patients with various oral conditions or systemic diseases and especially in the frail elderly. The present narrative review presents an overview of the current state of the assessment and improvement of masticatory performance in frail older people. To fully encompass oral frailty, oro-facial hypofunction, or oro-facial fitness, dental Patient Reported Outcomes (dPROs) should be included; nevertheless, there are limited evidence-based rehabilitation approaches. The concept of oral frailty, oro-facial hypofunction, or oro-facial fitness should involve dental Patient Reported Outcomes (dPROs), and in this sense, there are only a few evidence-based rehabilitation procedures to improve oro-facial hypofunction besides prosthodontics. It must be considered that reduced neuroplastic capacity in old individuals might preclude a positive outcome of these strategies that might need to be accompanied by functional training and nutritional counseling.

Oral health and risk of cognitive disorders in older adults: A biannual longitudinal follow-up cohort.

Oral health may be associated with cognitive disorders such as mild cognitive impairment or dementia. This study elucidates the effects of oral health conditions on the progression of cognitive disorders. Data were collected from 153 participants of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Aging and Dementia cohort who completed the longitudinal dental examinations and cognitive function assessments using the three-wave biannual survey. We analysed the relationship between dental factors and the conversion of cognitive function. The ratio of maxillary removable partial denture use (p = .03) was high in the converter and mild cognitive impairment/dementia groups. The low-grade ratio of posterior masticatory performance increased in the converter and mild cognitive impairment/dementia groups (modified Eichner index 2, p = .04). The mild cognitive impairment/dementia group had a higher rate of complete mandibular denture use (p < .001). The converter and mild cognitive impairment/dementia groups had fewer remaining teeth (p < .05) or removable prostheses (p < .01) than the normal group. Masticatory performance is associated with the conversion of cognitive disorders. Our findings suggest that oral health management can help delay the progression of cognitive disorders.

Masticatory dysfunction in older adults: A scoping review.

Masticatory dysfunction impacts food selection, nutritional intake and social activities; all of which play a vital role to ensure good general health and quality of life. Despite the rapidly ageing population, there is limited evidence regarding the risk factors that lead to masticatory dysfunction in older adults or protective factors which may help maintain masticatory ability. Furthermore, there is currently no consensus for a specific test which measures masticatory ability. The objectives of this scoping review are to identify the risk and protective factors associated with masticatory dysfunction and determine the most commonly used objective measure of masticatory performance. A scoping review was performed using the PRISMA recommendations. MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched. Seventy-eight articles were included in this review. There were six randomised controlled trials, six interventional studies, one systematic review, one quasi-experimental study, five prospective cohort studies, 58 cross-sectional studies and one case-control study. Data were analysed for frequency of studies reporting on risk factors, protective factors and/or objective measures of masticatory performance. This scoping review identified tooth loss as the most common risk factor for masticatory dysfunction. Other notable risk factors included musculoskeletal conditions such as frailty and sarcopenia, cognitive decline and malnutrition. Additionally, the review identified that the presence or addition of teeth was the main protective factor. Other protective factors included denture maintenance via liners and adhesives, textured foods, and oral exercises. Chewing gum was the most common objective measure of masticatory function, followed by the occlusal force and sieve methods. This scoping review found that there was limited evidence for a causal link between each of the risk factors and masticatory dysfunction or the protective factors and the maintenance of masticatory ability in older adults. Establishing a standard method for measuring masticatory performance such as the commonly used chewing gum method and encouraging clinicians to routinely measure masticatory function will enable comparisons across multiple risk and protective factors, improving the evidence base and contributing to better patient care.

Pre-Adolescent Diet Normalization Restores Cognitive Function in Young Mice.

Mastication is a fundamental function critical for human health. Controlled by the central nervous system (CNS), it influences CNS development and function. A poor masticatory performance causes cognitive dysfunction in both older adults and children. Improving mastication may prevent cognitive decline. However, no study has determined the period of masticatory dysfunction that impairs children's later acquisition of cognitive function. Herein, we developed an animal model wherein a soft diet was switched to a normal diet at early and late time points in young mice. We aimed to investigate the impact of restored mastication on learning and memory function. Behavioral studies were conducted to evaluate learning and memory. Micro-CT was used to evaluate orofacial structural differences, while histological and biochemical approaches were employed to assess differences in the hippocampal morphology and function. Correction to a hard-textured diet before adolescence restored mastication and cognitive function through the stimulation of neurogenesis, extracellular signal-regulated kinases, the cyclic adenosine monophosphate-response element-binding protein pathway, and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor, tyrosine receptor B. In contrast, post-adolescent diet normalization failed to rescue full mastication and led to impaired cognitive function, neuronal loss, and decreased hippocampal neurogenesis. These findings revealed a functional linkage between the masticatory and cognitive function in mice during the juvenile to adolescent period, highlighting the need for adequate food texture and early intervention for mastication-related cognitive impairment in children.

Rheological and Fatigue Characteristics of Asphalt Mastics and Mixtures Containing Municipal Solid Waste Incineration (MSWI) Residues

The large-scale implementation of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) has put great pressure on waste management and environmental protection. Road construction engineering has also been confronted with the challenges of the heavy consumption of non-renewable mineral resources. Therefore, we evaluated the feasibility of recycling and reusing MSWI residue as an alternative to limestone filler (LF) in transport infrastructure. We investigated the rheological characteristics and fatigue performance of asphalt mastics and mixtures containing MSWI residue. Firstly, a particle size analyzer and environmental scanning electron microscope were adopted to characterize the particle distribution and surface micromorphology of the investigated fillers, respectively. Then, tests for determining the steady shear viscosity and multiple-stress creep recovery were conducted to evaluate the high-temperature rheology of five asphalt mastics. Meanwhile, we used Burgers models with fitting parameters to describe the classic creep recovery measurements and viscoelastic responses. The wheel-tracking test revealed the rutting resistance, and the linear amplitude sweep (LAS) and time sweep tests were combined to investigate the fatigue performances of the five asphalt mastics. A dynamic creep test identified the fatigue life of the asphalt mixtures according to the flow number index. Finally, statistical analysis was conducted to identify the correlations between the rheological and fatigue properties of the mastics and mixtures (R2 over 0.87 and 0.78, respectively). Since the fatigue life predictions for the asphalt mastic decreased by over 42.9% according to the MSWI residue/LF volume ratio, the results of the correlations could improve pavement designs. The substitution of the mineral filler in asphalt mixtures with MSWI residue could be a sustainable strategy for the road construction sector.

The impact of residual ridge morphology on the masticatory performance of complete denture wearers

Statement of the problemMorphology of the residual ridge (RR) is expected to influence the masticatory performance (MP) of complete denture (CD) patients, but considerable details of this relationship are unknown. PurposeWe aimed to investigate the association between the objective MP and RR morphology of CD wearers and other contributory factors affecting their MP. Materials and methodsSixty-five patients with well-fitting upper and lower CDs with no complaints of pain were enrolled. The objective MP was measured using test gummy jelly and a fully automated measuring device. The RR form was divided into U-type, V-type, I-intermediate, and F-Flat, then combinations of upper and lower RR forms (combined RR) were classified. The height was measured using CD's denture basal surface replicas, while occlusal contact of CDs was assessed using a tooth contact analysis system. The relationship between surveyed factors and MP was evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation, Kruskal-Wallis test, generalized linear regression, and analysis of covariance. ResultsParticipants with F–F and V–F combined RR forms had the lowest MP, while those with U–U and U–I forms had the highest MP, regardless of RR height. Participants with low RR height had the lowest MP, and those with high RR height had the highest MP, regardless of RR form. The analysis of covariance revealed that mandibular RR height, combined RR forms, and total occlusal contact area significantly affected the MP. ConclusionsOur findings confirmed that the mandibular RR height, RR form combinations, and occlusal contact influence the MP of CD wearers.ClinicalImplications:The MP of CD wearers varied, depending on the height and form of the RR, as well as the occlusal contact area of the CDs. The results of this manuscript show that the morphology of the denture bearing area and the occlusion of the CDs are essential factors in predicting the treatment outcome of CD wearers. This allows the clinician to fabricate a complete denture with the denture basal surfaces adjusted and occlusion provided according to the patient. CD patients can be educated on how to chew to improve MP based on their own RR morphology.

Association between masseter muscle volume, nutritional status, and cognitive status in older people

ObjectivesClinical evidence has suggested that oral function is associated with cognitive, physical, and nutritional status of older people. A smaller volume of masseter, a crucial muscle for mastication, was associated with frailty. It has remained unknown if smaller masseter is associated with cognitive impairment. The current study investigated the association between masseter muscle volume, nutritional status, and cognitive status in older people. Materials and methodsWe recruited 19 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 15 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and 28 sex and age-matched non-cognitive impairment (non-CI) older subjects. The number of missing teeth (NMT), masticatory performance (MP), maximal hand-grip force (MGF), and calf circumference (CC) were assessed. The masseter volume index (MVI) was calculated based on the masseter volume measured using magnetic resonance imaging. ResultsThe MVI was significantly lower in the AD group, compared to the MCI as well as the non-CI group. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the MVI was significantly associated with nutritional status (as indexed by CC) in the analysis of combination of NMT, MP, and the MVI. Moreover, the MVI was a significant predictor of CC only in patients with cognitive impairment (i.e., MCI+AD) but not in the non-CI group. ConclusionsOur findings suggested that in addition to the NMT and MP, masseter volume is a critical oral factor associated with cognitive impairment. Clinical relevance. Reduction of MVI should be carefully monitored for patients with dementia and frailty, to whom a lower MVI may indicate worse nutrient intake.

Reduced lip seal strength and missing teeth are associated with poorer masticatory performance in young adults with intellectual disabilities: a cross-sectional analytical study.

Alterations in oral health have a negative impact on the quality of life of persons with intellectual disabilities (PwIDs). Chewing is a process that influences and determines optimal oral health. However, little is known about how intellectual disability (ID) affects masticatory performance. This study aimed to analyse the differences in masticatory performance between young adults with IDs, young adults without IDs and older adults without IDs. A cross-sectional analytical design was used. The masticatory performance was evaluated with a chewing gum validated instrument. In addition, the labial and tongue strength was assessed with the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument. We compared the masticatory performance between groups using one-way analysis of covariance. Body mass index, muscle mass, missing teeth, lip strength and tongue strength were included as separate covariates. A multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify which independent variables could explain masticatory performance in each group. Thirty-two PwIDs, 31 young adults without IDs and 32 older adults without IDs were recruited. PwIDs showed poorer masticatory performance compared with older adults (mean difference: -3.06, 95% confidence interval: -3.87 to -2.26) and healthy controls (mean difference: -2.38, 95% confidence interval: -3.19 to -1.57). The analysis of covariance showed significant difference between groups in the masticatory performance (F=47.35, P<0.001, ηp 2 =0.507). Missing teeth (P<0.001), right lip strength (P=0.025) and tongue strength (P=0.007) as covariables showed a significant interaction with the model. In the PwID group, lip strength and lack of teeth explained 58% of the variance in masticatory performance (R2 =0.580, standard error=1.12, P<0.001). Persons with intellectual disabilities have a poorer masticatory performance than adults without IDs. Our findings indicate that the primary determinants of optimal masticatory function in PwIDs are the strength of the lip seal and the number of missing teeth.

Evaluation of Chronological Change of Body and Oral Function after Dental Im plant Treatment

To clarify the effects of dental implant treatment on oral and physical function, chronological change between before and after treatment for six years was investigated in this study. In particular, the relationship between age at first visit and changes after treatment was focused. Eighty-two subjects who had four occlusal support areas restored by dental implant treatment. Four examinations were performed at baseline and during the follow-up periods. The test items were gum masticatory performance assessment, hand grip strength, and body component. To evaluate the effect of intervention with dental implant treatment, Friedman’s and post-hoc tests were used. Hand grip strength and mastication performance were significantly maintained during follow-up period in under and over 65 years. In over 65 years, a few items were significantly lower than at baseline. No significant difference was observed about skeletal muscle mass（%）, fat mass（%）, fat-free mas（%）, and leg（%）in under and over 65 years. These results indicated that hand grip strength and mastication performance were improved over a long period after dental implant treatment. It was speculated that the improvement in hand grip strength was associated with the recovery of systemic functions, especially in under 65 years old group.