Prospective clinical trial comparing lingualized occlusion to bilateral balanced occlusion in complete dentures: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective comparative trial was to evaluate whether patients treated with complete dentures with lingualized occlusion (LO) exhibited more positive results than patients treated with complete dentures with bilaterally balanced occlusion (BBO).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight completely edentulous patients, ranging in age from 60 to 82 years (mean age 70.9), consented in writing to be participants in this trial. The first 14 patients enrolled in the study protocol were treated with complete dentures with LO, and the next 14 patients were treated with complete dentures with BBO. Baseline characteristics were measured prior to the trial. Main outcome variables involved subjective outcomes of general satisfaction, ability to masticate, and stability and retention of the prostheses; these were quantified with a 100-mm visual analog scale. Objective outcomes were masticatory performance and the number of adjustments. Statistical assessments of the 2 groups were compared using multiple linear regression analysis. The baseline characteristics were analyzed by Student t test and chi-square test.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups at baseline. The height of the alveolar ridge exhibited significant correlations with masticatory performance (P = .02). The occlusal scheme exhibited a significant correlation with only the patient's retention satisfaction rating (P = .03).

CONCLUSION: Despite limitations of this study attributed to the small sample size and lack of randomization, this pilot study found that edentulous patients fitted with complete dentures with LO experienced and expressed greater satisfaction with their denture retention. In addition, it was observed that a higher alveolar ridge resulted in greater masticatory performance.