Relation between oral stereognosis and masticatory efficiency in complete denture wearers: an in vivo study

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the possible association between the oral stereognostic ability and masticatory efficiency at the time of denture insertion and after 6 months in complete denture wearers.
Methods: Sixty edentulous patients were selected. The study was conducted in two parts. First, on the day of denture fit-in oral stereognostic ability test was conducted, followed by masticatory efficiency was carried out. The patients were recalled for check up after 6 months and the same test was performed again. Data were tabulated and analyzed statistically by paired t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient.
Results: There was weak correlation between oral stereognosis and masticatory efficiency. Many opinions have been presented in the literature in the past regarding oral stereognosis. The issue whether oral stereognosis also helps in patients' adaptation towards complete denture prosthesis is still ambiguous. No consensus has been reached. This study is further an attempt to understand the basic physiology of oral stereognosis and whether there is any possible relation between oral stereognosis and masticatory efficiency.
Conclusions: Within the limitation of this study, it can be concluded that oral stereognostic ability improves with time, which might be due to adaptation to the denture. As adaptation towards denture improves masticatory efficiency improves as well. This study showed that there might be a weak association between oral stereognosis and masticatory efficiency.

Keywords
oral stereognosis, oral perception, oral sensorimotor function, masticatory efficiency, masticatory performance.