Masticatory rhythm 3 months after treatment with unilateral implant-supported fixed partial prosthesis: A clinical study

Whether treatment with an implant-supported fixed partial prosthesis (ISFPP) affects the masticatory rhythm in patients with unilateral posterior missing teeth is unclear.The purpose of this prospective clinical study was to determine the change in masticatory rhythm in participants with unilateral posterior missing teeth 3 months after treatment with an ISFPP and to assess whether treatment influenced the stability of the masticatory rhythm.Thirty participants (mean age 59 years; 17 women) with unilateral posterior missing teeth were treated with 1-, 2-, or 3-unit ISFPPs. Ten healthy individuals (mean age 36 years; 8 women) with a complete natural dentition were included in a control group. In this prospective study, each participant performed 3 masticatory assays (freestyle, unilateral right, and unilateral left) at baseline and at the 3-month follow-up. Each assay comprised 5 trials of 20 cycles masticating pieces of silicone placed in a latex bag. The time needed to complete the 20 masticatory cycles per trial was measured, and the mean masticatory frequency was calculated for each assay. Coefficients of variation were then calculated from the 5 mean values of the masticatory trials. Differences in the data at 3 months and baseline were analyzed by using the Wilcoxon or paired t tests. The control and treated groups were compared by analysis of variance or Mann-Whitney U tests (α=.05).After 3 months, participants treated with ISFPPs showed an increase of 8.7% in masticatory frequency during freestyle mastication (P.001) and an 8.0% increase during unilateral mastication on the treated side (P.01). At baseline, the coefficient of variation of masticatory frequency on the treated side was higher in the ISFPP group than in the control group during unilateral mastication (P=.033). Three months after treatment, there was a significant reduction in the coefficient of variation during unilateral mastication on the treated side of the ISFPP group (P.001). The treatment group also reached a masticatory frequency similar to that of the control group (75 and 78 cycles per minute, respectively).Treatment with ISFPPs accelerated the masticatory rhythm of individuals with unilateral posterior missing teeth, who achieve similar rhythms to those with complete natural dentitions. The stability of the masticatory rhythm was also restored, indicating an improvement in masticatory function.