Influence of the height of the mandibular ridge on masticatory function during the functional adaptation with complete dentures

• Grant number: 16/09889-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2016
• End date: July 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Dental Materials
• Principal Investigator: Ana Carolina Pero
• Grantee: Ana Flávia Balestrero Cassiano
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

One of the major complaints among wearers of new complete dentures is the difficulty to chew, especially harder foods. Although this problem is usually temporary, it can directly influence patient satisfaction and the success of treatment. Mandibular complete dentures are usually identified as a major source of discomfort among users, making it difficult to adapt. One explanation for this difficulty of adaptation is related to a smaller mandibular area and also the process of resorption of the alveolar ridge after extraction or tooth loss that happens with greater intensity in the jaw. Objective: evaluate the influence of the height of the mandibular ridge on masticatory performance and ability of the participants at different stages after the insertion of new complete dentures. Methodology: Twenty edentulous individuals (G1, n = 10, normal mandibular ridges, G2, n = 10, resorbed mandibular ridges) wearing new conventional complete denture will be evaluated in different moments: 24 hours (Evaluation 1), 30 days (Evaluation 2), three months (Evaluation 3) and six months after the insertion of the conventional complete dentures (Evaluation 4). Masticatory performance will be assessed by the sieves method and masticatory ability by means of the application of specific questionnaire based on visual analog scale (VAS). Data will be analyzed statistically with a significance level of 5%, by means of the IBM SPSS Statistics, (version 19.0), using appropriate test according to the adherence to normality. (AU)