Wpływ częściowych ruchomych protez osiadających na poprawę funkcji żucia Effect of removable partial dentures on the masticatory function improvement

Summary Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of prosthetic treatment on the masticatory function improvement in patients suffering from different kinds of tooth loss. Material and methods: The study was carried out in a group of 30 patients with different kinds of tooth loss and in 15 healthy volunteers with full natural dentition taken as controls. Based on the clinical examination, the missing teeth were classified according to Eichner’s classification and the state of masticatory organ was established with regard to functional dental units. Masticatory efficiency was measured using the Optosil test for 20 and 80 cycles of chewing before and one year after treatment. All validated parameters were statistically analyzed. Results: The negative correlation was found between the number of existing teeth, the number of functional dental units and the ability to crush food for 20 and 80 cycles of chewing before and after treatment. In each case, the prosthetic treatment improved the masticatory function. However, statistically significant differences were noted only for 80 cycles of chewing in persons with at least one posterior functional dental unit. Conclusion: Improvement in the hard food grinding in patients treated with removable partial dentures depends on the number of posterior functional dental units. HASŁA INDEKSOWE: wydolnośc zucia, leczenie protetyczne, cześciowe protezy osiadające