Computerized measurement of bite forces for edentulous subjects with denture bases of different impression techniques

Abstract EN

Background : Complete denture wearers show lower levels of bite force than dentate subjects.

This has a significant influence on their chewing efficiency.

In this study an attempt was made to investigate the effect of the impression technique on the maximum bite force in complete denture wearers.

Materials and methods : The patients selected for this research were 12 edentulous patients.

Three different techniques for registering the final impression were made; the mucostatic, mucofunctional, and the selective pressure impression technique.

Two sets of upper and lower denture bases and one set of upper and lower dentures were constructed for each subject.

Intraoral and extraoral instruments and devices, as well as a computer program were used for measuring the maximum bite force.

Results : The subjects without past experience with complete dentures were able to give higher levels of bite force with dentures or denture bases constructed from the mucofunctional impression technique, while those with previous dentures gave higher levels of bite force with the dentures or denture bases constructed from the selective pressure impression technique.

Conclusions : It is recommended that dentures constructed from the mucofunctional impression technique be used for those subjects without previous experience with complete dentures, while for those with previous complete dentures the selective pressure impression technique should be used.