Chewing performance before and after rehabilitation of post-canine teeth in man.

Missing teeth are often replaced by fixed or removable prosthodontic appliances to improve masticatory function. However, there have been few studies directly determining the influence of prosthodontic treatment on masticatory function. Our aim was to obtain information on the objective and subjective masticatory function of partially edentulous subjects before and after prosthetic restoration. In this way, the improvement of the masticatory function as a result of the treatment could be quantified. The objective and subjective masticatory function of a group of 15 subjects was determined before and after replacement of an average of 3.1 post-canine teeth. The results were compared with data from a control group of 26 subjects having a complete dentition. The total number of occluding post-canine teeth increased as a result of the prosthodontic treatment, yielding a significantly improved objective masticatory function. The average masticatory performance was found to approach the level of the control group if all occlusal units of the longest posterior side were replaced. Subjects with an incomplete dentition tended to chew predominantly on the side of the longest posterior arch. The average subjective masticatory function improved as a result of the treatment. The appreciation of the masticatory function after treatment was equal to that of the control group, despite an average of 2.7 missing teeth. However, no correlation was found between the additional number of occlusal units and the change in subjective masticatory performance. Rehabilitation of post-canine teeth restores some objective masticatory function and leads to an increased appreciation of the masticatory function, although no correlation was found between the changes in objective and subjective masticatory function.