Comparison of chewing ability of mandibular implant-retained overdenture patients using the subjective and the objective assessments

Authors :

• Neerush Kunon D.D.S., M.S.
• Orapin Kaewplung D.D.S., Ph.D.

Abstract :

Objective To compare the chewing ability of mandibular implant-retained overdenture in Thai
elderly patients using the subjective and objective assessments.

Materials and methods Thirty-three participants were recruited. Their chewing ability were evaluated
twice: 1 month after implant placement and 3 months after the insertion of a mandibular implantretained
overdenture. The subjective chewing ability was evaluated using a developed questionnaire
consisting of 14 common food types. For the objective chewing ability, it was assessed by a wax cube
analysis method. The relationship between the changes of chewing ability assessed by the subjective
and the objective method was analyzed using Pearsonûs correlation statistic analysis.

Results The chewing ability change evaluated by the subjective method significantly related to those
changes evaluated by the objective method. (r = 0.35, p < 0.05)

Conclusion There was a statistically significant relationship between the chewing ability change
evaluated by the subjective and the objective methods.

(CU Dent J. 2014;37:171-82)

Keywords :
chewing ability; implant-retained overdenture; objective assessment; subjective assessment; Thai elderly