Evaluations of masticatory performance of complete denture wearers using color-changeable chewing gum and other evaluating methods.

We have been investigating and developing a color-changeable chewing gum, that tends not to adhere to dentures. The aim of this study was to investigate the color change of the chewing gum comparing to other methods while evaluating post-insertion changes of masticatory performance of complete denture wearers. Color-changeable chewing gum, the peanuts sieve test, a patient satisfaction questionnaire and a food questionnaire were applied to 26 edentulous subjects. The subjects were tested on two occasions: with previous dentures, with new dentures when they had no symptoms after finishing denture adjustment. In comparison between the differences of previous and new dentures, significant correlations were found between the color change of the chewing gum and the scores of patient satisfaction questionnaires and food questionnaire. It was suggested that this chewing gum was useful for an objective masticatory evaluation of the denture wearers and could contribute to prosthetic treatments according to patients' satisfaction for dentures, which is clinically important information for both patients and dentists.