抄録
Purpose: The aims of using denture adhesives are to provide denture-wearers with improved fit and comfort of their dentures and to improve their chewing ability and confidence. However, there have been few reports on denture-wearers who regularly use denture adhesives, especially among maxillofacial patients. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of a denture adhesive in a maxillectomy patient.
Materials and methods: The subject investigated in the present study was a maxillectomy patient who had undergone surgical resection and radiotherapy. After delivery of a new dento-maxillary prosthesis, we investigated his speech and masticatory functions objectively using a speech intelligibility test and mixing ability test, respectively.
Results: In the speech intelligibility test, the score changed from 22.3% without the prosthesis to reasonable scores of 83.7% with the prosthesis alone and 84.7% with the prosthesis plus the denture adhesive. In the mixing ability test, the score changed from being immeasurable without the prosthesis to scores of -0.48 with the prosthesis alone and 0.10 with the prosthesis plus the denture adhesive.
Conclusion: Use of the denture adhesive led a marked improvement of the masticatory function.
