Comminution of two artificial test foods by dentate and edentulous subjects.

An experimental artificial test food with low fracture strength (Optocal) was compared with Optosil with respect to the comminution during mastication by complete denture wearers and subjects with natural dentitions. The comminution of both test foods revealed large differences between the denture wearers and the dentate subjects. These differences were larger with Optosil than with Optocal. The differences in comminution between Optocal and Optosil were larger in the denture wearers than in the dentate subjects. The differences in comminution between the denture wearers and the dentate subjects as well as the differences in comminution between Optocal and Optosil within each group were largely established in less than 20 chewing strokes. The results indicate that differences in selection contributed substantially to the differences in comminution. Since Optocal appeared to be much easier to chew than Optosil, it may be preferred to Optosil for measuring masticatory performance in complete denture wearers.