Influence of palatal coverage on oral function - Oral stereognostic ability and masticatory efficiency

Purpose: Oral sensorimotor function performs an important role in mastication. This study investigated the influence of wearing experimental palatal plates on masticatory efficiency and oral stereognostic ability (OSA), and the relationship between these two functions. Methods: Fifteen young adults with healthy dentitions (mean age, 26.4 years) participated in this study. Masticatory efficiency was determined using a sieving method and OSA test was conducted by 12 shaped forms. These tests were performed in random order under three different conditions: control (without experimental plate), Plate-A (a horseshoe-shaped and 10 mm in width from the gingival cuff) and Plate-B (the entire palate was covered). The thickness of experimental plate was 1.5 mm. The statistical significance level was set at P < 0.05. Results: Masticatory efficiency was significantly reduced with Plate-B, but not with Plate-A, compared with control. OSA scores were not significantly influenced by the presence of either plate. A significant positive correlation existed between masticatory efficiency and OSA score in control and with Plate-A, but not with Plate-B. Conclusion: We suggest that wearing Plate-A had no influence on masticatory efficiency and did not disturb oral sensorimotor control of the masticatory mechanism, while wearing Plate-B reduced masticatory efficiency and might have an effect on the relationship between OSA and mastication in young dentate adults. (C) 2009 Japan Prosthodontic Society. Published by Elsevier Ireland. All rights reserved.