CHEWING EFFICIENCY OUTCOME OF USING A SOFT LINER WITH IMPLANT RETAINED LOWER SINGLE COMPLETE OVER DENTURE

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of using a soft liner with locator attachment retained lower single complete over denture on the chewing efficiency.
Methodology: Seven patients aged 55-65 year had completely edentulous mandible opposing dentulous maxilla were selected for this study. All patients received a lower single complete over denture constructed over two implants, placed at the canine region and retained with locator attachment. After 3 months of denture using, the patient underwent soft lining of their overdenture. Chewing efficiency was evaluated three months after wearing denture without a soft liner (first measurement) and 3 months again after wearing the relined denture (second measurement) using the two colored chewing gum mixing ability test.
Results: There were statistically significant lower mean scores of the unmixed fraction of chewing gum value for all the chewing cycles of patients wearing lower single complete implant retained overdenture with locator attachment and soft liner compared to scores obtained with those patients wearing overdenture without a soft liner.
Conclusion: Using a soft liner with mandibular single complete overdenture that retained with locator attachment improves the chewing efficiency.