Assessment of swallowing and masticatory performance in obturator wearers: a clinical study.
- Author:
Nungotso VERO
1
;
Niraj MISHRA
;
Balendra Pratap SINGH
;
Kamleshwar SINGH
;
Sunit Kumar JUREL
;
Vijay KUMAR
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Masticatory performance; Obturator; Swallowing; Mastication; Occlusal force; Maxillectomy
- MeSH: Bite Force; Deglutition*; Dental Restoration Wear; Dentition; Dentures; Drinking; Mastication; Prostheses and Implants; Social Sciences
- From:The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics 2015;7(1):8-14
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: PURPOSE: To assess function by identifying changes in swallowing and masticatory performance in maxillary obturator prosthesis wearers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty subjects were recruited for the study, of which 20 were obturator wearers, 20 were completely dentulous and 20 had removable partial/complete dentures with similar Eichner's Index. Swallowing ability was evaluated with and without obturator using the "Water Drinking Test"; Masticatory performance was evaluated with the Sieve test; and maximum occlusal force was recorded with the help of a digital bite sensor. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science version 15.0 with a confidence level at 95%. RESULTS: Profile, behavior of drinking and time taken to drink were significantly improved (P<.001) in subjects after wearing obturator. Masticatory performance was not significantly different (P=.252) in obturator wearer when compared with dentulous or removable partial/complete denture wearer, but significantly (P<.001) high inter group difference in maximum occlusal force existed. Correlation between masticatory performance and maximum occlusal force was not significant (P=.124). CONCLUSION: Swallowing ability was significantly improved after wearing obturator but masticatory performance was not significantly different from those having similar occlusal support zone in their dentition.
