2026 Volume 41 Issue 1 Pages 43-48
Introduction：Masticatory dysfunction in older adults may be influenced not only by physical factors such as denture maladaptation and decline in oral function, but also by psychological factors including age-related resignation and acceptance. This case report describes an older adult patient whose chief complaints were limited to mandibular denture instability and food impaction and who exhibited low motivation toward eating. Denture fabrication integrating initial intraoral scanner（IOS）-based digital recording and denture space recording（piezography）was performed, and its clinical effectiveness was evaluated.
Case：An 85-year-old male with only the mandibular right lateral incisor remaining was wearing removable dentures in both arches. Although no marked maladaptation of the existing dentures was observed, maximum occlusal force was low（23.6 N）, and masticatory performance was unmeasurable. Subjectively, the patient did not perceive difficulty in mastication and requested only improvement of discomfort through fabrication of new dentures.
Clinical Course：At the initial visit, the maxillary and mandibular mucosa and the remaining tooth were digitally recorded using an IOS, and a device for denture space recording was fabricated. At the second visit, jaw relation recording and piezography were performed. A denture was fabricated by CAD/CAM and delivered at the third visit.
Discussion：After insertion of the new denture, maximum occlusal force improved to 405.2 N and masticatory performance to 96 mg/dL. Eating discomfort and food impaction resolved, and increased motivation was observed, as reflected by the patientʼs statement that he wished to proudly show the denture to others. This case demonstrates that high-precision denture fabrication can be achieved with fewer clinical steps and visits than by conventional methods. The present approach may contribute to both functional recovery and improvement in quality of life in prosthodontic treatment for older adults.
