Factors related to the resting tongue position among partially and completely edentulous subjects.

The prevalence of abnormal (retracted) position of the tongue at rest was examined in subjects with varying number of natural lower teeth. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between tongue retraction and state of dentition and to identify potentially related parameters. The resting tongue positions were recorded in subjects partially edentulous in the lower jaw (n = 164) and compared with those met in dentate (n = 57) and completely edentulous participants (n = 84). Potentially related parameters, such as age, sex, duration of edentulism, palate vault and signs of temporomandibular disorders were also recorded. Tongue retraction was observed in a small percentage (12.3%) of the dentate, almost half (45.7%) of the partially edentulous and in the majority (67.8%) of the completely edentulous participants. The number of natural lower teeth correlated with the resting tongue position in the partially edentulous group. The tongue position at rest was also found weakly related to signs of temporomandibular disorders in the dentate group and to the sex and duration of edentulism in the partially edentulous group. It was concluded that the abnormal positioning of the resting tongue is increasingly observed with decreasing number of natural teeth, possibly in accordance with the morphological and functional alterations that result from teeth loss. The presence of a retracted tongue affects the complete denture construction; however, its effect on denture function remains questionable.

Validation of communication between elderly denture wearers and dentists: a questionnaire on satisfaction with complete dentures using semi-structured interviews.

OBJECTIVES: To validate a semi-structured interview (SSI) for communication between complete denture wearers and dentists. DESIGN: A SSI using a questionnaire with eight questions on satisfaction with complete dentures (CD): covering function, aesthetics and comfort. The first seven questions used a five-point Likert scale and the last was dichotomous. Two dentists, carefully trained in the use of the structured questionnaire, administered the SSI. SETTING: A Greek Department of Prosthetic Dentistry. SUBJECTS: A consecutive sample of 78 CD wearers took part in the study. All subjects presented with complaints from their dentures. INTERVENTION: All participants and their dentures underwent clinical examination. RESULTS: The method showed good reliability, verified by the Cronbach alpha (0.86). Both dentists used the questionnaire produced very similar results. (Wilcoxon test 61-99%). Further, the association of the answers with respect to the five-point Likert scale was very high; all gamma coefficients were statistically significant except for pain and discomfort from the upper CD (CDU). CONCLUSIONS: This method of communication between patients and dentists is reliable and can be used to give good repeatability for qualitatively assessing satisfaction with CD. It can be valuable for clinical use and for extending the study of denture quality to establish outcome measures based on the subjective criteria of satisfaction.

Validation of indices for functional assessment of dentures.

AIMS: To validate an assessment of qualities of complete dentures that may relate to functional success. SUBJECTS: A consecutive sample of 131 complete denture wearers took part in the study. SETTING: a Greek department of prosthetic dentistry. INTERVENTION: All participants and their dentures underwent clinical examination. DESIGN: The Functional Assessment of Dentures (FAD) 10-item criteria' describing clinical factors of denture quality was used. The rationale for selecting these particular criteria was to include a range of clinical factors to produce an overall assessment of complete dentures. The 10-item scale was examined for Internal Consistency and Construct Validity providing a summated rating scale whose total score could be used as an index for the quality of dentures. RESULTS: Both intra- and inter-examiner agreement for all 10 dichotomous scale criteria were all good or very good; the intra-examiner Kappa values were 0.72 to 0.91 and the inter- examiner values were 0.72 to 0.99. Statistical analysis revealed that a 7-item summated rating scale could be constructed which has marginally better internal consistency (reliability) and Construct Validity with fewer questions. CONCLUSIONS: The FAD criteria' can be used to give good repeatability. The adjustments made to the original summation scale, if confirmed by new studies, would further increase the practical utility of a FAD index for general dentists. In due course with data from future studies, discrimination on weighting of items will be appropriate to relate the impact of denture quality on quality of life.

Resting tongue position and its relation to the state of the dentition: a pilot study.

The position of the resting tongue has been reportedly classified as normal or abnormal. The problems introduced by the abnormal tongue position relating to denture retention and stability have been sufficiently underlined. In the present study, the bibliography on the abnormal tongue position and its effect on denture function was reviewed. Additionally, the criteria for characterizing the tongue position as well the causes of the abnormalities, as reported in the literature, were discussed. Finally, a pilot epidemiological study was conducted, with the purpose to determine the incidence of the abnormal tongue position among edentulous patients as opposed to the dentate. The criteria used for the determination were criticized, and the mechanisms potentially leading to this habit were discussed. The findings indicate that the habit development is associated with the loss of natural teeth, therefore the mechanism relates to the functional and anatomical changes of the oral environment resulting from it. An epidemiological project has been designed, with the purpose of uncovering the associations between the observed tongue position and certain functional and anatomical features, as suggested by the present study.

Removable prosthodontic treatment for the primary and mixed dentition.

Dental prosthetic treatment of children in the primary and mixed dentition years was planned with respect to the special conditions accompanying the absence of teeth. Besides the immediate functional and esthetic benefit of prosthetic therapy, the prosthetic appliance helps to maintain the oral functional status, which is considered necessary for undisturbed lower facial growth. Therefore, careful follow-up and thoughtful treatment decisions should be exercised, especially in cases where impairment of permanent dentition and supportive tissues complicate the prognosis.

Weight and linear dimensional changes of reversible hydrocolloid duplicating materials: effect of storage and re-use.

Weight and linear dimensional changes of two hydrocolloid duplicating materials following setting in various environments were examined. Prior to the measurements, the sample materials were stored either in the sol or in the gel phase, for a period of 5 days, in order to evaluate the effect of ageing on their composition and behaviour. A 100% relative humidity environment produced the least change to the set material, and in this environment, the behaviour of the materials was not affected by their age. Results indicate that deterioration of the duplicating materials provoked by repeated or prolonged heating, is detectable, through their weight changes, even at an early stage.

Retentive ability of various denture adhesive materials: an in vitro study.

This in vitro investigation of the retentive ability of various commercially available denture adhesives was performed by measuring the adhesion and cohesion that developed between a glass surface and an acrylic resin disk surface when some liquids, adhesive materials, or both were placed between them. Student's paired t-test, repeated measures, and two-factor design analysis of variance were performed to determine the significance among mean values. The adhesive materials studied exhibited a significantly greater retentive ability than that of saliva, and their retentive ability increased significantly when they were used in combination with artificial saliva. Highly significant differences of the retentive ability among the different brands of denture adhesives were observed.

[Changes in the physical properties of Gingivamoll flexible gingival epithesis]. / Veränderungen physikalischer Eigenschaften von Gingivaepithesen aus Gingivamoll.

It was the purpose of this study to investigate variations in weight, volume, hardness, material density, adjustment and colour of Gingivamoll flexible gingival masks during a period of twelve months. Additionally, patients were inspected for potential infections of Candida albicans. Thirty-three gingival masks of nine patients were selected for the study. One third was placed into patients' mouths, one third was placed on stone models under room conditions and a third group was submerged under water. At baseline all gingival masks were examined and measured. For the first half of the year, measurements were recorded monthly and in the second half of the year at two months' intervals. Results showed a constant Shore-A hardness, volume and density. Gingival masks submerged under water kept their weight. The other masks, i. e. those placed into patients' mouths and those placed on plaster models, lost weight. Adjustment deteriorated at distal sites. Colour stability was not satisfactory. Tests for Candida albicans remained negative. It can be concluded that Gingivamoll flexible gingival masks can be used without serious problems for a period of twelve months.

[Changes of the elastomer impression materials after their immersion in some disinfection agents for AIDS infection control purposes]. / Eumperiphora ton elastomeron apotypotikon ylikon kata ton apolymanse enanti tou iou tou AIDS se merika aposteirotike--apolymantika kai antiseptika ygra.

In achieving infection control in the dental office and the dental laboratory it has been suggested that impressions made in the dental office should be disinfected before they are send to the dental laboratory. In this study we examined the solubility and the linear changes of some elastomer impression materials after their immersion in disinfection agents after ten, twenty and forty minute time intervals. The disinfection agents used were: 75% alcohol, domestic chlorine 10%, the agent sterile pack (isopropyl alcohol) and 2% activated glutaraldehyde (SIDEX). Water was used as control. Our findings show that all types of elastomer impression materials appear to suffer insignificant changes both linear and weight-wise but polyether impression materials show significant changes in almost all the disinfection agents that were used and the time intervals that were studied.