Chewing efficiency, bite force and oral health-related quality of life with narrow diameter implants - a prospective clinical study: results after one year

Norbert Enkling; Marcus Saftig; Andreas Worni; Regina Mericske-Stern; Martin Schimmel

doi:10.1111/clr.12822

Chewing efficiency, bite force and oral health-related quality of life with narrow diameter implants - a prospective clinical study: results after one year

Clin Oral Implants Res. 2017 Apr;28(4):476-482. doi: 10.1111/clr.12822. Epub 2016 Mar 24.

Authors

Norbert Enkling^{1

2}, Marcus Saftig¹, Andreas Worni³, Regina Mericske-Stern⁴, Martin Schimmel^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Gerodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
² Department of Prosthodontics, Preclinical Education and Dental Material Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
³ Division of Fixed Prosthodontics and Biomaterials, Dental University Clinic, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
⁴ Professor emeritus, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
⁵ Division of Gerodontology and Removable Prosthodontics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

PMID: 27009835
DOI: 10.1111/clr.12822

Abstract

Objective: This prospective study aimed to investigate the evolution of chewing efficiency, maximum voluntary bite force (MBF) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in edentulous patients treated with narrow diameter implants (NDIs) over the course of 1 year.

Materials and methods: Four NDIs (MDI^® , 3M ESPE, diameter 1.8 mm) were placed interforaminally in 20 edentulous patients. They were immediately loaded by converting the existing prosthesis into an implant overdenture. Participants were examined six times pre- and postoperatively [baseline (BL) to week 52 (w52)]. Chewing efficiency was evaluated with a colour-mixing ability test by evaluation of the standard deviation of hue (VOH, ViewGum©). MBF was measured using a digital force gauge. OHRQoL was determined with the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIPG49). Nonparametric Brunner-Langer models were applied for statistical testing.

Results: The study failed to demonstrate an effect on chewing efficiency. MBF increased continuously during the observation period (medians: MBF[N]@BL = 46.6 [iqr 50.1]; MBF[N]@w52 = 103.9 [iqr 76.0]; P = 0.002). OHRQoL increased steeply after implant loading and continued improving (medians: BL ∑OHIPG49 = 31 [iqr 40.0]; w4 ∑OHIPG49 = 11.5 [iqr 19.5]; w52 ∑OHIPG49 = 6 [iqr 13.0], P < 0.001).

Conclusions: The stabilisation of a lower complete prosthesis with four NDIs is a feasible minimally invasive and economical approach to improve oral function and OHRQoL, especially in elderly patients with limited bone support. Functional benefits might be more evident if patients receive chewing instructions. Larger studies need to confirm a positive effect on chewing efficiency and develop long-term maintenance solutions if patients become frail because no easy downgrading approaches of one-piece titanium implants exist.

Keywords: bite force; chewing gum; edentulous mouth; endosseous dental implantation; mastication; narrow diameter implants; quality of life; symptom assessment.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Alveolar Ridge Augmentation
Bite Force*
Dental Implants*
Dental Prosthesis Design*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Mastication*
Middle Aged
Oral Health*
Patient Satisfaction
Postoperative Complications / diagnosis
Quality of Life*

Substances

Dental Implants