Effect of occlusal scheme on bolus transport during feeding for complete denture wearers

Objectives: This study was aimed to evaluate the influence of different occlusal schemes on bolus movement during feeding for complete denture wearers.
Methods: Thirty completely edentulous patients were participated in this study. All patients were randomly classified in two equal groups. Group I received a complete denture with bilateral balanced occlusal scheme (BBO) and group II received a complete denture with lingualized balanced occlusal scheme (LBO). Patients were instructed to chew and swallow ¼ of cookie (coated with pudding and barium powder) with and without denture. Masticatory duration, number of chewing cycles, number of swallow, oropharyngeal residue, and penetration aspiration observation were measured by using videofluoroscopic assessment at baseline, 2 weeks and 3 months after denture insertion.
Results: Penetration of food into the larynx was significantly founded in edentulous patients without complete dentures. After 3 month of denture insertion, LBO group showed a statistically significant reduction in masticatory duration, and number of chewing cycles (p<0.05) compared to BBO group.
Conclusion: The occlusal scheme has been found to be important in swallowing function as lingualized balanced occlusal scheme improve chewing ability and oral preparatory stage of swallowing in comparison to bilateral balanced occlusal scheme after 3 month of denture insertion.