The effect of dry mouth on the pressure/pain sensitivity of the oral mucosa of patients using mandibular implant-supported overdenture prosthesis.

AIM: This study is of significant importance as it aims to determine whether dry mouth is associated with oral pain sensitivity in individuals using implant-supported overdentures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 107 volunteers were included in the study if their prostheses were made in the Department of Prosthetic Dentistry at the Faculty of Dentistry at Erciyes University. Participants were divided into three groups: those using full dentures in both jaws, those using full dentures in the upper jaw and locator-connected dentures in the lower jaw, and those using full dentures in the upper jaw and ball-connected dentures in the lower jaw. Information about dry mouth, the patient’s age and gender, smoking status, and systemic diseases was collected through a detailed questionnaire. Pressure pain threshold (PPT) was measured using an FPX 25 digital algometer and unstimulated whole saliva flow was measured using the unstimulated whole saliva technique. The data were analysed rigorously using IBM SPSS V23 and R software. RESULTS: The study found no statistically significant correlation between dry mouth (determined by both patient responses and saliva volume measurements) and demographic data such as gender, age, type of disease, prosthesis manufacturer, number of prostheses, smoking and medication use (p > 0.050). However, a statistically significant relationship was found between dry mouth and saliva volume in patients using Locator attachment dentures (p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: No significant correlation was found between dry mouth and oral pain sensitivity values, regardless of group. Locator attachment denture users showed statistically significant differences in hyposalivation, subjective dry mouth, and Trait anxiety scoring compared to the other groups. This highlights the need for further randomised controlled studies to diagnose dry mouth and eliminate disorders that may be caused by it.