Meeting abstract
Intra-Examiner Reliability of Disposable Gnathometers
C. Baat
W. Kalk
H. Karkazis
M. Ozcan
L. van Zeghbroeck
MA van 't Hof
Abstract
In vivo test methods using the expensive methods gnathodynamometry for assessing maximum bite-force, revealed objective improvement of retention of maxillary dentures using denture adhesives. Since the introduction of the disposable gnathometer (Procter & Gamble), facilitating simple measurement of bite-force at dislodgement of the denture, it seems relatively easy to measure the maximum bite-force of maxillary dentures. The gnathometer has a scale ranking from 1 to 10. It measures the
pressure which a patient can apply to the front teeth until dorsally dislodgement of the maxillary denture. The aim of the present study was to test the intra-examiner reliability of gnathometers. In each of 5university dental clinics (Rotterdam, Groningen, Athens, Gent, and Istanbul) 5 patients who had received a new conventional complete
maxillary denture less than one month previously, were selected. These patients had a stable natural dentition or prosthetic appliance in the mandible, e.g. an overdenture attached on natural or implant abutments, a partial natural dentition with a stable partial chromcobalt denture, etc. In the first session the maximum bite-force was measured by one experienced prosthodontist for each patient using three different gnathometers, successively three times
with each gnathometer. If the result was between 2 ranking points, the lowest was registered. The 9 measurements were conducted with three-minute breaks in order to enable the patient to reposition the dentures comfortably and habitually. One week later at the same time of the day, these measurements were repeated with the same three gnathometers, respectively for each patient, as used in the
first session. Intra-examiner reliability was very good. Paired sample correlations were 0.91, with overall measurement error of 0.7 on the ranking scale.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
10059
URI
Publication date:
15.9.2002.
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