Background: There is growing international interest in identifying the effects of ageing on oral health and on appropriate strategies for managing oral disorders. The Japanese Society of Gerodontology (JSG), as the official representative of researchers and clinicians interested in geriatric dentistry in Japan, makes several recommendations on the concept of “oral hypofunction.”Aims: This study proposes diagnostic criteria and management strategies to reduce the risk of oral hypofunction among older people.Conceptual Framework: We define oral hypofunction as a presentation of 7 oral signs or symptoms: oral uncleanness; oral dryness; decline in occlusal force; decline in motor function of tongue and lips; decline in tongue pressure; decline in chewing function; and decline in swallowing function. The criteria of each symptom were determined based on the data of previous studies, and oral hypofunction was diagnosed if the criteria for 3 or more signs or symptoms were met.Conclusions: We recommend that more evidence should be gathered from clinical studies and trials to clarify our diagnostic criteria and management strategies.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fabrication of a complete denture using a CAD/CAM system. Cone beam CT was used to measure the complete denture and the artificial teeth. After a 3D complete denture image was structured using 3D CAD software, we factored out the artificial teeth and obtained a 3D denture base image. A machining center cut an acrylic resin block, and fabricated an acrylic complete denture base. The artificial teeth were bonded to the cut denture base using resin cement. A 3D digitizer digitized the fabricated acrylic denture. We measured the deviations between the master 3D complete denture image and the 3D data of the fabricated acrylic denture. The average deviations from the master 3D image were 0.50 mm for the occlusal surface. This present study indicates that it is possible to fabricate a complete denture using a CAD/CAM system.

This study evaluated the effects of the differences in the printing directions of stereolithography (SLA) three-dimensional (3D)-printed dentures on accuracy (trueness and precision). The maxillary denture was designed using computer-aided design (CAD) software with an STL file (master data) as the output. Three different printing directions (0°, 45°, and 90°) were used. Photopolymer resin was 3D-printed (n = 6/group). After scanning all dentures, the scanning data were saved/output as STL files (experimental data). For trueness, the experimental data were superimposed on the master data sets. For precision, the experimental data were selected from six dentures with three different printing directions and superimposed. The root mean square error (RMSE) and color map data were obtained using a deviation analysis. The averages of the RMSE values of trueness and precision at 0°, 45°, and 90° were statistically compared. The RMSE of trueness and precision were lowest at 45°, followed by 90°; the highest occurred at 0°. The RMSE of trueness and precision were significantly different among all printing directions (p < 0.05). The highest trueness and precision and the most favorable surface adaptation occurred when the printing direction was 45°; therefore, this may be the most effective direction for manufacturing SLA 3D-printed dentures.

A new trial method for complete dentures using rapid prototyping (RP) was compared with the conventional method. Wax dentures were fabricated for 10 edentulous patients. Cone-beam CT was used to scan the wax dentures. Using 3D computer-aided design software, seven 3D denture images with different artificial teeth arrangements were made and seven trial dentures per patient were fabricated accordingly. Two prosthodontists performed a denture try-in for one patient using both conventional and RP methods. The prosthodontists and patients rated satisfaction for both methods using a visual analogue scale. Satisfaction ratings with both conventional and RP methods were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Regarding prosthodontist’s ratings, esthetics and stability were rated significantly higher with the conventional method than with the RP method, whereas chair time was rated significantly longer with the RP method than with the conventional method. Although further improvements are needed, the trial method applying RP seems promising.

To clarify the basic properties of a color-changeable chewing gum to determine its applicability to evaluations of masticatory performance under different types of dental status. Ten participants with natural dentition aged 26-30 years chewed gum that changes color during several chewing strokes over five repetitions. Changes in color were assessed using a colorimeter, and then L*, a*, and b* values in the CIELAB color system were quantified. Relationships between chewing progression and color changes were assessed using regression analysis and the reliability of color changes was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients. We then measured 42 dentate participants (age, 22-31 years) and 47 complete denture wearers (age, 44-90 years) to determine the detectability of masticatory performance under two types of dental status. Regression between the number of chewing strokes and the difference between two colors was non-linear. The intraclass correlation coefficients were highest between 60 and 160 chewing strokes. Dentate and edentulous groups significantly differed (Wilcoxon rank sum test) and values were widely distributed within each group. The color of the chewing gum changed over a wide range, which was sufficient to evaluate the masticatory performance of individuals with natural dentition and those with complete dentures. Changes in the color values of the gum reliably reflected masticatory performance. These findings indicate that the color-changeable chewing gum will be useful for evaluating masticatory performance under any dental status.