A comparative evaluation of masticatory efficiency and satisfaction with different types of removable partial dentures: a pilot crossover randomized study

Aims: This study evaluated the subjective experience of masticatory performance and masticatory efficiency in partially edentulous patients rehabilitated with three different types of removable partial dentures (RPDs). Materials and methods: This was a crossover randomized study, which was carried out at the prosthodontics clinic of the University of Ghana Dental School clinic. Sixteen patients requiring RPDs but had never worn one before were consecutively recruited for the study. Three different RPDs [i.e., cobalt chromium, acrylic, and thermoplastic resin (iFlex)] were fabricated for each patient. Masticatory efficiency was assessed using a singlesieve method after chewing raw carrots. The subjective experience of masticatory performance was also assessed using a questionnaire after 1 week of using each denture. Results: The cobalt-chromium denture recorded the highest masticatory efficiency (31.4%), and the iFlex denture recorded the lowest (27.9%). Subjectively, the cobalt-chromium denture was ranked as the denture they were most satisfied with when chewing with the least being the acrylic denture. Conclusion: Despite the fact that the iFlex, flexible denture had an overall appeal, where effective chewing is of great concern to prospective RPD patients, the cobalt-chromium denture may have a slightly better advantage.