Masticatory Efficiency and Perceived Masticatory Ability Evaluation in Completely Edentulous Patients Rehabilitated with A Thermoplastic Denture

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the masticatory efficiency and perceived masticatory ability among completely edentulous patients rehabilitated with a thermoplastic denture base Subjects and methods : This study was done in the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar University. The masticatory efficiency was evaluated in 60 completely edentulous patients. The patient received a complete thermoplastic denture. (Vertex™ ThermoSens, Vertex-Dental B.V. Netherlands). The masticatory efficiency and the perceived masticatory ability were evaluated at one month and after six months of denture use. Data were collected and statistically analyzed with SPSS@ V25 to evaluate the masticatory efficiency before and after the adaptation period for each patient to assess the association between both indices Results: Masticatory efficiency and the perceived masticatory ability increased considerably after six months of denture use, and they were significantly higher than values recorded one month after prosthesis placement. Conclusions: A significant association was also observed between masticatory efficiency and perceived masticatory ability, and both can be used to evaluate masticatory performance among complete denture wearers.