Guang Hong, DDS, PhD,(a) Takeshi Maeda, DDS, PhD,(b) and Taizo Hamada, DDS, PhD(a)
(a)Department of Oral Health Care Promotion, Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University, Sendai, and (b)Department of Advanced Prosthodontics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
Purpose: Denture adhesives are used to improve denture retention, stability and function. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a cream-type denture adhesive on bite force until denture dislodgement (BFDD) using an improved gnathometer.
Materials and Methods: Twelve denture-wearing patients (six females and six males, mean age: 69 years) were involved in the study. The maximum BFDD of two groups (“no biting pain” and “biting pain”) was measured using a disposable gnathometer before and after denture adhesive application. The standard curve of the gnathometer measurements was produced using a constant load compression testing machine from 10 N to 80 N.
Results: A significant difference was found between the no biting pain group and the biting pain group before the application of denture adhesive (p<0.0001). A notable improvement was observed in BFDD of the biting pain patients after denture adhesive was applied (p<0.0001). No significant difference in BFDD was found in the no biting pain subjects following the application of denture adhesive.
Conclusion: The following conclusions were drawn: 1) Denture adhesive is effective for improving the BFDD of complete denture wearers with biting pain; 2) The gnathometer is useful for measuring the BFDD of complete denture wearers.(Int Chin J Dent 2010; 10: 41-45.)
Key Words: bite force, complete denture, denture adhesive, gnathometer