COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF MASTICATORY EFFICIENCY IN PATIENTS WITH COMPLETE EDENTULISM AFTER FIXED AND REMOVABLE IMPLANT-SUPPORTED DENTAL PROSTHODONTICS

Abstract

Purpose of the study. To compare the masticatory efficiency in patients with complete edentulism following prosthetic rehabilitation with fixed and removable implant- supported dentures based on survey results. Research methods. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 60 patients with complete edentulism, aged 62 to 76 years, after 3 years of using implant-supported prostheses. The assessment was performed using the validated Quality of Masticatory Function Questionnaire (QMFQ). Scientific novelty. According to the survey data, a statistically significant difference was observed in the mean total scores for patients with complete edentulism rehabilitated with removable versus fixed implant-supported configurations 45.1±5.2 points vs. 18.4±2.7 points, Р ˂ 0,001. Fixed prosthodontics provided an almost complete physiological compensation of masticatory function. Conversely, the use of removable designs was associated with substantial subjective difficulties during mastication, manifested in dietary restrictions, the necessity to drink liquids with meals, soak food, or use sauces to facilitate bolus formation. Clarifying questions regarding the actual mechanical processing of food products included in the questionnaire helped explain the sufficient masticatory efficiency in patients after removable implant-supported prosthodontics, which was achieved by modifying difficult- to-chew foods into pieces, minced meat, and purees. In contrast, patients with fixed prostheses demonstrated zero scores in the food modification section, indicating no need to break down food products prior to consumption. Conclusions. The validated QMFQ demonstrated higher sensitivity and informativeness in evaluating masticatory function after implant-supported prosthodontics compared to more commonly used oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) questionnaires, which tend to mask the differences between various types of prosthetic designs. The ease of administration of this method, combined with its high diagnostic value, allows for its recommendation for widespread implementation in clinical practice to evaluate the quality of prosthodontic treatment in patients with complete edentulism using implants. A promising direction for further research is the development and validation of specialized questionnaires created specifically for dental implantation, which will enable a more differentiated assessment of the level of general and functional rehabilitation of patients.