Eficiencia masticatoria en pacientes portadores de prótesis parciales removibles Clínica UCSG semestre A-2024.

Abstract

Introduction: Masticatory efficiency measures the quality of masticatory function by assessing how many chewing strokes are necessary to adequately grind food. It can be influenced by the condition of the teeth, the number of masticatory units, the design and fit of the prosthesis, and the characteristics of the food. Objective: to determine the masticatory efficiency in patients with removable partial dentures treated at the dental clinic of the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil during the period A - 2024. Materials and methods: A longitudinal study was conducted, with an experimental and descriptive design, utilizing a quantitative approach. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were established for sample selection. To evaluate masticatory efficiency, chewing gum (Bubble Boy brand; green and red; 3 cm long x 1 cm wide) was used. The results were analyzed using the digital image analysis system of the Perceptodent program. Results: Masticatory Efficiency was significantly higher in women, at 0.80, compared to men, who achieved 0.60. An association was found between masticatory efficiency and the number of teeth. The greatest differences in post-treatment improvement were observed: CLASS I (M. 0.45 to 0.60) and CLASS I – TOTAL (M. 0.60 to 0.65) according to the Kennedy Classification. The Wilcoxon test showed that the application of prosthetic treatment produced a significant improvement in Masticatory Efficiency (Z = 2.994; P = 0.003). Conclusion: These findings support the effectiveness of removable partial dentures as a viable solution for restoring masticatory function in patients, contributing significantly to their quality of life.