Statement of problem: An unfavorable denture-bearing area could compromise denture retention and stability, limit mastication, and possibly alter masticatory motion.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the masticatory movements of denture wearers with normal and resorbed denture-bearing areas.
Material and methods: Completely edentulous participants who received new complete dentures were selected and divided into 2 groups (n=15) according to the condition of their denture-bearing areas as classified by the Kapur method: a normal group (control) (mean age, 65.9 ± 7.8 years) and a resorbed group (mean age, 70.2 ± 7.6 years). Masticatory motion was recorded and analyzed with a kinesiographic device. The patients masticated peanuts and Optocal. The masticatory movements evaluated were the durations of opening, closing, and occlusion; duration of the masticatory cycle; maximum velocities and angles of opening and closing; total masticatory area; and amplitudes of the masticatory cycle. The data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA and the Tukey honestly significant difference post hoc test (α=.05).
Results: The group with a resorbed denture-bearing area had a smaller total masticatory area in the frontal plane and shorter horizontal masticatory amplitude than the group with normal denture-bearing area (P<.05).
Conclusions: Denture wearers with resorbed denture-bearing areas showed reduced jaw motion during mastication.
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