Masticatory Efficiency of Complete Denture Wearers with Reduced Dental Arch

One obstacle when placing posterior artificial teeth during the manufacturing of complete dentures is the reduction of spatial relationship of the maxillae to the mandible. It affects the work time of the technician, once it requires abrasion of the denture base and the artificial tooth itself. Occasionally, the placement of the second molars is suppressed, for it does not affect aesthetics, phonetics and comfort. There are no reports in literature on this subject; despite studies involving shortened dental arches and dentures masticatory performance. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare masticatory efficiency of maxillomandibular complete denture wearers with reduced dental arch (without superior and inferior second molars) and complete dental arch. Method: Twenty subjects were divided in two groups randomly and received new dentures. Group 1 was given complete dentures without second molars and group 2 was given dentures with second molars. After post-insertion consults, the first masticatory efficiency test was taken with Optocal. Fifteen days after the first test, a new one was taken, in which second molars were positioned in group 1 and removed from group 2. Comminuted material was treated and sieved on a stack of sieves under vibration. Result: Mean and standard deviation of subjects’ masticatory efficiency with complete dental arch was 4 and 0.68, respectively. While on the tests without second molars, mean and standard deviation were 4.22 and 0.92, respectively. Analyzing the moment of removal of second molars from the dental arch, mean of group 1 was 4.22 and standard deviation 0,63 and, group 2 3.78 and 0.72, respectively. Conclusion: According to the statistical analysis applied to this study (p<0,05), there were no differences on masticatory efficiency in complete dentures with or without second molars. Therefore, placing artificial teeth until first molars can be done when needed, without compromising masticatory efficiency.