Comparison of the Masticatory Efficiency and Biting Force between Conventional Complete Dentures and Implant Retained Over Dentures with Different Types of Attachments.

Abstract

Background: The prosthodontic management of the edentulous patient has always been a major challenge
to prosthodontists. Patients wearing conventional complete dentures often complain about the instability and
dissatisfaction especially with lower dentures. Implant retained over dentures help to solve this instability
problem. Masticatory efficiency and biting force is a major indicator of functional state of masticatory
system and its measurement is an important parameter during treatment planning.
Materials and Method: This study involves the use of miniature load cell to determine the maximum biting
force and color changing chewing gum to evaluate masticatory efficiency in 20 edentulous patients wearing
conventional complete dentures and comparing it with implant over dentures retained ball and bar retained
over dentures. Paired t-test and Anova test were applied to statistically evaluate the data.
Results: Indicated that patients with bar retained implant over dentures demonstrated significant levels of
masticatory biting force and masticatory efficiency as compared with ball retained over dentures and ball
retained over dentures showed better results upon conventional complete dentures.