Color-changeable chewing gum to motivate chewing training with complete dentures for a male patient with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and oligodontia

Abstract

A 4-year-old boy with oligodontia, presenting only maxillary central conical-shaped incisors, received his first complete dentures. He could wear dentures for a better appearance; however, had difficulty eating because of no experience with chewing. To motivate and improve his chewing practice, color-changeable chewing gum was provided, and the times of color changing recorded. The patient was interested in this chewing training, and the recorded times became shorter, implying better masticatory performance. Therefore, color-changeable chewing gum would motivate patients to have chewing training, and might improve their masticatory function.