Factors Affecting Masticatory Satisfaction in Patients with Removable Partial Dentures

Analysis of implant precision in guided surgery: comparison of two methods

BACKGROUND

Implantology represents the therapy of choice for the rehabilitation of a partially or totally edentulous jaw in a healthy patient. Nowadays, it is possible to exploit of modern preoperative planning software, increasingly precise radiographic examinations (CBCT) and CAD/CAM technologies that allow designing devices directly on the computer to be sent to a milling center which produces the desired product, such as stereolithographic templates.

METHODS

The prospective clinical study in question aims to evaluate the accuracy between two different surgical guides using peek and metal guide bushings. Twenty-nine implants were placed: for the control group, 17 3i, T3 implants were used, while for the test group, 12 Xive S plus implants were used.

RESULTS

The result obtained shows that the deviations in the distribution of the control group and the test group are the same in the apical-coronal, vestibulo-palatal and mesio-distal direction. For the control group, the mean deviation was 1.394±0.644923 at the entry point of the implants and 1.85655±1.0765 at the most apical point of the implants. For the test group the mean deviation was 1.10157±0.312721 at the entry point of the implants and 1.54514±0.572100 at the most apical point of the implants.

CONCLUSIONS

The peek guide bushings have the same deviation as the metal ones. There is no difference in the method used, but precision must be sought in other elements, such as the patient's anatomy and maximum precision in the guide production phase.

A Systematic Review of Patient Satisfaction With Removable Partial Dentures (RPDs)

Removable partial dentures (RPDs) offer a broad range of aesthetics and restorative functions for partially edentulous patients. This systematic review examines patients' satisfaction rates and the factors that influence RPD satisfaction. This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews. A systematic literature search was done on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar using preset inclusion criteria. A total of 923 non-duplicate articles were screened, and 35 were included in this review. Among the included studies, RPDs generally exhibited high satisfaction rates, with reported rates ranging between 50% and 81%. Several factors influenced satisfaction. Age played a major role, with older adults expressing higher satisfaction. Gender differences were also noted, especially in appearance satisfaction where women were more satisfied with RPDs than men. Prior experience with RPDs correlated positively with overall satisfaction. The number and location of missing teeth, as well as the type of RPD (metal vs. flexible), significantly influenced satisfaction levels. Flexible dentures were more satisfactory than metal RPDs. Attachments, such as magnetic attachments and implants, increased satisfaction. Patient complaints, encompassing pain, aesthetics, and cleanliness, were identified as common sources of dissatisfaction. The results underscore the significance of customizing RPD treatment to individual needs, considering factors that influence RPD satisfaction. Recognizing the importance of influential factors such as age, gender RPD experience, etc., for clinicians seeking to optimize patient outcomes in RPD therapy is crucial.

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

Statement of the problem

Morphology 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.

Purpose

We aimed to investigate the association between the objective MP and RR morphology of CD wearers and other contributory factors affecting their MP.

Materials and methods

Sixty-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.

Results

Participants 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.

Conclusions

Our 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.

Maria MT, Hori S, Morikawa M, Marito P, Kaneko N, Nohno K, Nose H, Masuki S, Ono T. Effects of Interval Walking Training on Oral Health Status in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Case-Control Study

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of walking training "Interval Walking Training (IWT)" on oral health status. Participants were divided into two groups: an exercise intervention group and a non-intervention group (control). The intervention group consisted of 59 subjects (20 males, 39 females) aged 50 years or older who participated in the IWT program in Matsumoto from 2019 to April 2022. The control group consisted of 33 subjects (14 males and 19 females) aged 50 years or older who have visited Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital and agreed to participate in the study. The intervention group underwent walking training (interval walking training) for at least 5-6 months. The walking training consisted of five sets of fast walking above 70% peak aerobic capacity for walking (VO₂peak) for 3 min, followed by 3 min of slow walking at ~40% VO₂ peak per day for more than four days/week. The oral health status was evaluated for the number of teeth, occlusal force, salivary occult blood, masticatory performance, and tongue pressure. A total of 57 participants were analyzed in the intervention group (18 males and 39 females, age: 66.7 ± 0.8 (mean ± S.E.) years) and 33 participants in the control group (14 males and 19 females, age: 74.5 ± 1.1 (mean ± S.E.) years). There were no significant differences in gender, salivary occult blood, tongue pressure, masticatory performance, or occlusal force between the two groups at the start of the intervention (p = 0.36, p = 0.48, p = 0.42, p = 0.58, and p = 0.08, respectively by unpaired t-test or χ² test). On the other hand, there were significant differences in age and BMI, with a trend toward lower age and higher BMI in the intervention group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively, by unpaired t-test). In terms of rate of change, the intervention group showed a significant increase in occlusal force (F = 4.5, p = 0.04, ANCOVA) and a significant decrease in BMI (F = 7.3, p = 0.009, ANCOVA). No significant differences were observed in the other measured items. It was found that walking training in both middle-aged and older people does not only affect the physical aspect of weight loss but may help maintain and improve the occlusal force.

Assessing masticatory performance with a colour-mixing ability test using smartphone camera images

Background

Colour‐mixing ability tests are frequently used to assess masticatory performance, but the image acquisition process may be cumbersome and technique sensitive.

Objectives

To evaluate the reliability of smartphone camera images in assessing masticatory performance using a colour‐mixing ability test.

Methods

Participants were recruited into three groups of dental state (n = 20 each): fully dentate, removable partial denture wearers and complete denture wearers. After performing a colour‐mixing ability test, images of the gum specimens (Hue‐Check Gum©) were captured with two smartphones and compared with the images obtained from a flatbed scanner by two examiners. The images were analysed with a subjective‐ (SA) and an opto‐electronical assessment (VoH). Inter‐ and intra‐rater reliability were tested. ANOVA models with repeated measures were used for statistical analysis (⍺ = .05).

Results

All three image acquisition techniques were able to distinguish masticatory performance between different dental states. For SA, inter‐rater reliability was fair to substantial and intra‐rater reliability was substantial to almost perfect. For VoH, inter‐rater reliability with the smartphones was at times different between two examiners, but the intra‐rater assessment was reliable. The opto‐electronic analysis with smartphone images underestimated the masticatory performance significantly when compared to the flatbed scanner analysis. Seven‐day ageing of the specimens did not significantly affect the results.

Conclusions

The assessment of masticatory performance with the Hue‐Check Gum© is a reliable method. The use of smartphones may occasionally underestimate masticatory performance; image acquisition with a flatbed scanner remains the gold standard. A centralised analysis of the photographed wafer may foster the reliability of the diagnosis.