A randomized-controlled trial of food choices made by edentulous adults

A selection of abstracts of clinically relevant papers from other journals. The abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts.

Abstract

There were minor differences in food selection and chewing difficulty between subjects with conventional or with implant-supported mandibular dentures.

Main

Ellis JS, Thomason JM et al. Clin Oral Impl Res 2008; 19: 356–361

Some trials have suggested that implant-retained overdentures decrease the negative impact of conventional complete dentures on quality of life and food selection. However, this may be partly because patients have a prior preference for implants. In this study, 126 patients suitable for, and expecting, conventional replacement complete dentures were randomised to 2 groups, one of which then was offered conventional maxillary and implant-supported mandibular dentures.

The final implant group (I) numbered 49, and the conventional group (C), 48, and respectively 44 and 39 completed questionnaires about chewing bread, cheese, carrots, bacon, apples, nuts and lettuce before treatment and at 3 months. At 3 months, I group reported significantly easier chewing of nuts and apples, with trends towards improvement for carrots and lettuce. C group reported significantly greater ease chewing carrots, bacon and nuts. The only significant difference between groups was for nuts, which I subjects found easier to chew.