Mastication and oral health-related quality of life in removable denture wearers with Alzheimer disease.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Alzheimer disease (AD) can affect masticatory function, affecting oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Whether oral rehabilitation with conventional removable prostheses can restore masticatory function and improve OHRQoL in these individuals is unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the influence of oral rehabilitation with removable prostheses on masticatory efficiency and OHRQoL in elders with and without AD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-two elders with mild AD (n=16, mean age=76.7 ±6.3 years) or without AD (n=16, mean age=75.2 ±4.4 years) were recruited. All participants first underwent masticatory efficiency and OHRQoL evaluations, and 2 months after insertion of new removable prostheses, the variables were reassessed. Masticatory efficiency was determined using the sieving method, and OHRQoL was measured by applying the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). The data from the baseline and after insertion of the new removable prostheses were compared by paired t test. Group differences at each time point were assessed by t test (α=.05). RESULTS: After insertion of the new removable prostheses, masticatory efficiency and OHRQoL improved in both the elders with AD and the control. At baseline, elders with AD had lower masticatory efficiency and higher OHRQoL than controls (P<.05). After removable prosthesis insertion, elders with AD continued to show lower masticatory efficiency values than controls, but their OHRQoL was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Oral rehabilitation with new removable prostheses improved the masticatory efficiency and OHRQoL of elders with and without AD, although masticatory efficiency did not reach control levels in elders with AD.

Influence of a removable prosthesis on oral health-related quality of life and mastication in elders with Parkinson disease.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Parkinson disease (PD) symptoms, such as muscle rigidity, tremors in the lips and tongue, and involuntary mandibular movements, may cause oral health-related problems, mastication difficulties, and denture discomfort because of the difficulty in controlling a prosthesis with the oral musculature. PURPOSE: The purpose of this observational clinical study was to evaluate the influence of oral rehabilitation with a removable prosthesis on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and masticatory efficiency (ME) in elders with PD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-four elders with PD (n=17, mean age 69.4 ±4.7 years) or without PD (n=17, mean age 70.7 ±4.7 years) were recruited. All participants first underwent OHRQoL and ME evaluations. Two months after the insertion of new removable prostheses, the participants were reassessed. The OHRQoL was measured with the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-49). ME was evaluated by determining the percentage weight of the comminuted silicone-based artificial material that passed through a 2.8 mm sieve. For each group, data were compared between baseline and after insertion of new removable prostheses by paired t test or Wilcoxon sign test/signed-rank test. Group differences were assessed at each time point by t test (α=.05). RESULTS: After the insertion of removable prostheses, elders with PD showed improved OHRQoL and ME. Controls also showed improvements on both measures after insertion of removable prostheses. At baseline, elders with PD had lower OHRQoL and ME compared with the controls (P<.05). After removable prosthesis insertion, the elders with PD continued to show lower ME values than the controls, but their OHRQoL was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Oral rehabilitation with new removable dental prostheses improved the OHRQoL and ME in elders with and without PD, although ME did not reach control levels in elders with PD.