抄録
In the field of maxillofacial prosthetics, the pivotal function of which is to enhance the functional rehabilitation of patients, substantial attention has been paid on how to assess the functional rehabilitation in question, as seen in the literature. Assessment criteria, however, seem to differ widely from institution to institution.
Twenty-six papers which appeared in Journal of Maxllofacial Prosthetics （1995-2004） were surveyed from the point of view of functional rehabilitation, and the following results were obtained:
1. The masticatory function was characteristically assessed using a questionnaire asking what foodstuffs the patient could eat.
2. The speech function was characteristically assessed by means of a speech intelligibility test.
3. The swallowing function was characteristically assessed by means of a water drinking test.
4. Half of the papers surveyed seemed to use a reliable criterion, whereas the rest seemed to use a somewhat less reliable criterion.
