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Location of main occluding areas and masticatory ability in patients with implant-supported prostheses.

BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to locate the main occluding area when the reduced posterior occlusal support was treated with an implant-supported prosthesis and to evaluate the subsequent improvement in the masticatory ability as compared with removable partial dentures.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients with implant prostheses and 24 patients with removable partial dentures were recruited for this study. All patients had partially lost their posterior occlusal support. The first molar region in any quadrant was always included in the prosthetic region. Each subject was instructed to clench a piece of temporary stopping as a test food on the occluding area that was preferably used during mastication. The main occluding area was judged by locating the tooth on which the temporary stopping rested during clenching. Subjective masticatory ability was self-assessed by means of a questionnaire.


RESULTS
The main occluding area of the subjects in the implant group was located more posterior compared with the removable partial denture group. The level of masticatory ability in the implant group was the same as that in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The location of the main occluding area and the masticatory ability of the subjects with implants were equivalent to those with healthy natural dentition.