[Clinical evaluation of masticatory function of implant supported dentures in partially edentulous patients].

Objective: To evaluate the masticatory efficiency of implant supported dentures in partially edentulous patients and the patients' satisfaction on masticatory function.

Methods: The masticatory efficiency of implant supported dentures of 22 patients were tested. The questionnaire of the patients' satisfaction about masticatory function had also been collected. The correlativity of the masticatory efficiency of implant supported dentures and the scores evaluated by patients on masticatory function were analyzed.

Results: There were no differences in masticatory efficiency between implant supported denture and non-implant supported denture (natural teeth and porcelain-fused-to-metal fixed bridges). The patients gave high scores to the satisfaction about masticatory function in the questionnaire. But the test results of masticatory efficiency were not related with the scores evaluated by patients.

Conclusion: The implant supported denture could meet the requirement of normal masticatory function. The patients were satisfactory with the masticatory function of implant supported dentures, but the patients' subjective evaluation about masticatory function was probably influenced by varied factors.