COMMINUTION OF FOOD BY COMPLETE-DENTURE WEARERS

A method for quantifying the comminution of an artificial test food (Optosil(R)) was evaluated with respect to its suitability for measurements of masticatory performance in complete-denture wearers. Reference was made to subjects with natural dentitions. The description of particle size distributions generated by complete-denture wearers by a Rosin-Rammler equation was subject to limitations, due to the presence of large proportions of almost-intact particles, which had hardly been damaged or broken during chewing. This finding might be explained by: (i) the relatively high fracture strength of Optosil(R)) as compared with natural foods- and (ii) the limitations of complete-denture wearers in exerting bite forces. The particle size distributions obtained after repeated measurements and described by linear interpolation of data points were reproducible. In comparison with young adults with natural dentitions, the denture-wearers needed approximately seven times more chewing strokes to achieve an equivalent reduction in particle size.