Effects of different complete dentures base materials and tooth types on short-term phonetics

Objective: This study aimed to identify the effect of various types of complete dentures, base materials, and teeth types on patients' short-term phonetics

Methods: A quasi-parallel study was conducted at the dental clinic, Faculty of Dentistry at Al Azhar University-Assiut Branch in Egypt. Fifty healthy participants with complete dentures were enrolled in the study. The enrolled patients were grouped into two main batches: three groups in batch one and two groups in batch two. The three groups in the first batch received three different denture base materials [flexible acrylic resin, heat cure acrylic resin, and chrome cobalt metallic base]. The two groups in batch two received different types of teeth [acrylic and porcelain teeth]. The five groups completed a questionnaire composed of items pertaining to demographic characteristics, and the researcher obtained data about phonetics

Results: The sound level was significantly higher in the group of dentures constructed of chrome cobalt metallic base in comparison to the other materials. Additionally, the sound level in porcelain teeth was significantly higher than that in acrylic teeth. The material used to construct teeth was one of the major determinants influencing phonetics

Conclusion: Phonetics is affected by the material used to construct the base of complete dentures and the teeth type. Complete dentures with a chrome cobalt metallic base and porcelain teeth are considered to be superior for improving phonetics

effects of clinical wear on the incidence of temporomandibular disorders among patients with complete dentures

Objective: This study evaluates the effect of clinical wear on the incidence of temporomandibular disorders in patients with complete dentures

Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted on two groups; group 1 [30 patients] received complete upper and lower dentures with teeth made of heat-cured acrylic resin, and group 2 [29 patients] received complete upper and lower dentures with teeth fabricated of porcelain. The occurrence and clinical examination of temporomandibular disorders were evaluated using Helkimo anamnestic dysfunction index [Ai] and Helkimo clinical dysfunction index [Di], respectively. Clinical wear of denture teeth was estimated by the assessment of wear depth using the mean differences between tracing images of lingual cusps at each follow-up. The patients were followed up at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months for assessment of clinical wear and incidence of temporomandibular disorders

Results: The acrylic resin group was subjected to significantly higher wear than the porcelain group at 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up. The incidence of temporomandibular disorders was also significantly higher in the acrylic resin group than in the porcelain group at 18 and 24 months of follow-up

Conclusion: There was higher incidence of temporomandibular disorders among patients who wore complete dentures with teeth made of acrylic resin than in patients who wore complete dentures with porcelain teeth