Study On The Correlation Between Dental Functional Classification And Masticatory Efficiency

?Objectives?To assess associations between amongst masticatory performance,dental functional status,and chewing difficulties with common soft and hard foods.?Materials and methods?395 adult participants with incomplete dentitions were included and underwent an oral examination,completed a written structured questionnaire and performed a two-color chewing gum test for masticatory efficiency.A multivariate regression model was used to analyze associations between masticatory performance and a number of dental conditions,with age,gender and perceived chewing difficulties as background variables.Likelihood ratios were calculated to analyze the relationship between masticatory efficiency and dental conditions within a validated hierarchical dental functional classification system.?Results?The regression model showed a significant positive association between unmixed ratio and selfreported having problems with chewing difficulties(p = 0.004),and age(p < 0.001),and negative with having a sufficient premolar region(p < 0.001).In the hierarchical dental functional classification system the likelihoods for having a high-unmixed ratio and chewing difficulties with hard foods were highest for the predictor “less than 10 teeth in each jaw”(LRs 4.04,respectively 13.55).?Conclusions?In partial edentulous people perceived chewing difficulties with common foods were associated with lower objective masticatory efficiency.Having less than 10 teeth in each jaw and having an impaired premolar region were best predictors for low masticatory efficiency.