Influence of simplified dietary advice combined with new complete denture fabrication on masticatory function of complete denture wearers

Background Dietary advice combined with prosthetic treatment could improve dietary intake earlier than prosthetic treatment only. This early improvement might signify early adaptation to new prostheses. Therefore, dietary advice might affect functional adaptation to new prostheses. Objective The aim was to clarify the influence of simple dietary advice on masticatory function of elderly individuals with new complete dentures. Methods A randomised controlled trial was performed on 59 edentulous elderly individuals who had received new complete dentures. Participants were randomly divided into an intervention group (received simple dietary advice: 15 men and 15 women, mean age: 74.8 +/- 8.0 years) or a control group (received denture care advice: 15 men and 14 women, mean age: 78.6 +/- 6.8 years). Masticatory function was assessed using colour-changeable chewing gum for mixing ability and test gummy jelly for shearing ability. Mixing and shearing ability were assessed at pre-treatment, and 3 and 6 months post-treatment. At each assessment time, mixing ability was compared using Student's t test and shearing ability using Mann-Whitney's U test. Within-group differences in mixing ability were analysed using repeated-measures one-way analysis of variance and those in shearing ability were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test with Bonferroni correction. Results At each assessment time, there was no significant difference in mixing or shearing ability between groups. In the intervention group, mixing and shearing ability significantly increased at 3 and 6 months post-treatment. In the control group, mixing ability significantly increased at 6 months post-treatment. Conclusion Simple dietary advice might lead to relatively early improvements in masticatory function.