Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of artificial posterior teeth occlusal configuration for lingualized occlusion, on masticatory function.
Methods: Two males and 4 females completely edentulous subjects were studied. They used complete dentures in which the artificial posterior teeth portion was removable, in order to be able to change it from 30-degree artificial teeth for lingualized occlusion (anatomic teeth) to our department's designed bladed teeth for lingualized occlusion (non-anatomic teeth). Then, masticatory movement and subjective sensations between these two types of artificial teeth were compared. As for test food, boiled fish-pastes, peel peanuts, raw carrots, and pickled Japanese radishes were used.
Results: The masticatory performance observed when boiled fish-pastes were chewed 10 times, was significantly smaller in 30-degree artificial teeth than bladed teeth; however, regarding other test foods, no significant difference was observed. During masticatory movement, the cycle time and occluding time were significantly smaller in bladed teeth than in 30-degree artificial teeth, for all test food used. All subjects could obtain a favorable sensation with bladed teeth, especially while chewing hard foods of raw carrots and pickled Japanese radishes.
Conclusions: The two types of artificial teeth for lingualized occlusion exerted the same masticatory efficiency; however, lower cycle time influence subjective sensations, and our department's designed bladed teeth were particularly effective in the mastication of hard foods.
