Atsuko Gunji

Investigation on how renewal of complete dentures impact on dietary and nutrient adequacy in edentulous patients

PURPOSE The aim of this study is to investigate changes of diet and nutrient adequacy between complete denture wearers with their existing dentures and those with new dentures. METHODS After obtained their written informed consent 30 patients who visited Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo Affiliated Hospital from March 2004 to November 2005 were asked to record their 3 consecutive days meals and to take a picture of them. Furthermore, foods which they can eat with their dentures were examined the questionnaire developed by Hirai. Referring to the obtained records and pictures, one dietitian interviewed to confirm the exact intakes of meals. In addition, the masticatory ability was calculated using the questionnaire. The nutrient adequacy and masticatory score determined at the time of the first and second survey were examined by repeated-measures ANOVA. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULT The total intake of energy and nutrients was almost over 100% in both the groups. However, no statistically significant difference was obtained. The masticatory score with the existing and new denture were 66.1+/-18.5 and 58.3+/-19.9, respectively. The score increased significantly in the new denture group when compared with that of the existing denture group. CONCLUSION The self-evaluation of the masticatory function improved after the switch from the old to new dentures.

Survival analysis of mandibular complete dentures with acrylic-based resilient liners.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this long-term randomised controlled trial was to compare the longevity of dentures constructed using a conventional acrylic resin (CAR) to that of dentures constructed using an acrylic-based resilient liner (ARL). MATERIALS AND METHODS The follow-up study was essentially carried out by annual telephone calls to each of the 67 participants. The Kaplan-Meier method and life-table analysis were used for univariate analyses. The Cox proportional-hazards test was used as a final model for statistically adjusting predictor variables such as sex, clinician type, mandibular denture type and age at denture delivery. RESULTS The denture type was likely to affect the survival time of the dentures, while the sex and clinician type were not. The group using acrylic-based resilient denture liners had twice the risk of having shorter denture-survival times than those using conventional acrylic resin dentures. Younger participants were likely to have a reduced risk of having shorter denture-survival times than older participants. CONCLUSION We conclude that mandibular complete dentures constructed using ARL are twice as likely as dentures constructed using CAR to have shorter denture survival times, mainly because of material deterioration.

The use of existing denture-satisfaction ratings for a diagnostic test to indicate prognosis with newly delivered complete dentures

PURPOSE The study investigated the relation between subjective satisfaction ratings of existing dentures and outcomes of newly delivered dentures, and the ability of the diagnostic test, using existing ratings, to indicate prognosis with newly delivered dentures. METHODS Consecutive 165 edentulous patients were recruited from November 2001 to August 2006 at a university-affiliated hospital. Dentures were fabricated with an acrylic base with full-balanced occlusion using hard resin artificial teeth by multiple prosthodontists. At the baseline and 3-month after delivery, patients rate their overall, maxillary, and mandibular satisfaction for existing and replaced dentures on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). The association between baseline ratings and newly delivered dentures was analyzed by regression analysis. The tests performance was measured by constructing a two-by-two table; patients with the following cutoff values on the VAS (overall: <or=31; maxillary: <or=47; mandibular: <or=36) were considered unsatisfied with existing or new dentures. Relative validity of the diagnostic tests was assessed by means of sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios. RESULTS Mandibular dentures showed a significant association between baseline and new dentures (coefficient=0.27, p=0.01). Results of test measures for overall, maxillary, and mandibular existing dentures were 71%, 38%, and 87% (sensitivity); 62%, 66%, and 49% (specificity); and 1.1, 1.9, and 1.7 (positive likelihood), and 0.5, 1.0, and 0.2 (negative likelihood). CONCLUSIONS Test performance indicates that the negative (satisfied) result for mandibular existing dentures may be useful to rule out the unsatisfied patients with new mandibular dentures.

Observation of Newly Formed Bone Around Dental Implants Using Parametric X-ray

The purpose of this study is to determine the potential of the LEBRA-PXR imaging in investigating the details of newly formed bone around the dental implants. Transmission image observation of the undecalcified specimen at the wavelength of 1.771 Å showed clearly the formation of immaturely calcified new bone around the dental implants which could not be observed in the usual CMR nor conventional X-ray imaging apparatus.