A novel colourimetric technique to assess chewing function using two-coloured specimens: Validation and application. Issue 8 (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schimmel, Martin; Christou, Panagiotis; Miyazaki, Hideo; Halazonetis, Demetrios; Herrmann, François R.; Müller, Frauke
• Is Part Of: Journal of dentistry. Volume 43:Issue 8(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 955
• Page End: 964
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Dentistry -- Periodicals; Dentistry -- Periodicals; Dentisterie -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 617.6005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2015.06.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-5712

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="abs0005"> <title id="sect0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="sect0010">Objectives</title> <p id="spar0005">Chewing efficiency may be evaluated using cohesive specimen, especially in elderly or dysphagic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate three two-coloured chewing gums for a colour-mixing ability test and to validate a new purpose built software (ViewGum©).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0015">Methods</title> <p id="spar0010">Dentate participants (dentate-group) and edentulous patients with mandibular two-implant overdentures (IOD-group) were recruited. First, the dentate-group chewed three different types of two-coloured gum (gum1–gum3) for 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 chewing cycles. Subsequently the number of chewing cycles with the highest intra- and inter-rater agreement was determined visually by applying a scale (SA) and opto-electronically (ViewGum©, Bland–Altman analysis). The ViewGum© software determines semi-automatically the variance of hue (VOH); inadequate mixing presents with larger VOH than complete mixing. Secondly, the dentate-group and the IOD-group were compared.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0020">Results</title> <p id="spar0015">The dentate-group comprised 20 participants (10 female, 30.3 ± 6.7 years); the IOD-group 15 participants (10 female, 74.6 ± 8.3 years). Intra-rater and inter-rater agreement (SA) was very high at 20 chewing cycles (95.00–98.75%). Gums 1–3 showed different colour-mixing characteristics as a function of chewing cycles, gum1 showed a logarithmic association; gum2 and gum3 demonstrated more linear behaviours. However, the number of chewing cycles could be predicted in all specimens from VOH (all <italic>p</italic> < 0.0001, mixed linear regression models). Both analyses proved discriminative to the dental state.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0025">Conclusion</title> <p id="spar0020">ViewGum© proved to be a reliable and discriminative tool to opto-electronically assess chewing efficiency, given an elastic specimen is chewed for 20 cycles and could be recommended for the evaluation of chewing efficiency in a clinical and research setting.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0030">Clinical Significance</title> <p id="spar0025">Chewing is a complex function of the oro-facial structures and the central nervous system. The application of the proposed assessments of the chewing function in geriatrics or special care dentistry could help visualising oro-functional or dental comorbidities in dysphagic patients or those suffering from protein-energy malnutrition.</p> </sec> </abstract>