Changes in masticatory laterality three months after treatment with unilateral implant-supported fixed partial prosthesis

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed changes in masticatory laterality in patients with unilateral posterior missing teeth three months after treatment with an implant-supported fixed partial prosthesis (ISFPP). Methods: Thirty patients with unilateral posterior missing teeth participated in this prospective study. They were treated with one-, two- or three-unit ISFPPs. The control group comprised 10 healthy individuals with complete natural dentition. Each participant performed masticatory assays at baseline and at 3-month follow-up, chewing pieces of silicon inside a latex bag. Masticatory laterality was determined using three different methods: assessment of the first chewing cycle, of all cycles, and application of a visual analogue scale. Data were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis or the Mann-Whitney U test as appropriate. Results: Three months after treatment, a significant change in the asymmetry index towards the treated side and a significant reduction in the Unilateral Chewing Index were observed in the ISFPP group. No significant differences in masticatory laterality between groups were detected at three-month follow-up, regardless of the method assessed. Conclusion: Treatment with ISFPPs alters the masticatory laterality, moving it to the treated side and increasing the degree of bilateral chewing in patients with unilateral posterior missing teeth.