Abstract
This survey was conducted to determine the chewing ability and self-denture evaluation by elderly full denture wearers. Forty patients whose dentures were made by the same dentist were divided into four groups of 10 patients according to gender and age (65-74 years, over 75 years). A subjective evaluation of the occlusion of the denture was made by using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The masticatory ability of these subjects were scored from 0 to 100 with the table for evaluation of chewing function designed by Satoh et al. The maximum occlusal force was measured with the pressure sensitive sheet “Dental Prescale 50 H.”The results were as follows:
1. 90% of the patients scored over 70 with the VAS for denture occlusion. Chewing function scores ranged from 25 to 90; the median value was 50. Maximum occlusal forces ranged from 49 N to 503 N; the median value was 216 N.
2. The female group over 75 years old showed lower values than any other group.
3. A significant correlation (p<0.01, Spearman's rank correlation) was found between VAS scores of occlusion and chewing function scores.
4. No significant correlation was found between the VAS scores of occlusion and the maximum occlusal forces.
