Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of occlusal adjustments to wearing complete dentures on the function of mandibular movements and comfort. And this study was to assess the Mandibular Movement-index. Materials and methods: Thirty edentulous patients (11 men and 19 women) with poor denture conditions were selected for this study. The patients answered a questionnaire about comfort (total satisfaction of dentures, stability, eating, speech, appearance and esthetics), pain, and preference region of the dentures for chewing, or the not-preferred region of dentures. Before and after occlusal adjustments, the changes of tapping movements were measured with a BioPAK® system, and the changes were compared.
Results: 1. An increase of comfort and a decrease of pain were obtained by the occlusal adjustments. 2. The vertical distance of mouth-opening and velocities (opening velocity and closing velocity) of tapping movements were significantly improved. 3. After occlusal adjustments, the Mandibular Movement-index “(vertical distance of opening mouth/cycle time)×100” was increased.
Conclusion: It was importance to inquire of patient about preference region of the dentures for chewing, or the not-preferred region of dentures, because of the not-preferred region of dentures for chewing and premature contact agree approximately. In addition, curative effectiveness of occlusal adjustments are evaluated by a new expression of the Mandibular Movement-index “(vertical distance of opening mouth/cycle time)×100”.
