Irreversible Hydrocolloid as a Test Food in Complete Denture Wearers

This paper was presented to the 20th Annual Scientific Meeting of the South East Asian Division of IADR in September 2005, at Malacca, Malaysia.

Abstract - The aim of this study was to investigate the suitability of irreversible hydrocolloid impression material (alginate) as a test food to measure the chewing performance of complete denture wearers. Twenty edentulous subjects participated, 11 of whom were re-tested after new dentures were provided. A gravimetric sieving method was used. The particle size distribution was measured after 10 chewing strokes and again after 20 chewing strokes. It is concluded that alginate pellets are suitable as test food for edentulous subjects, 20 chewing strokes are appropriate and an additional mesh size greater than 2mm should also be used.

KEY WORDS: Irreversible hydrocolloid, chewing performance, complete dentures, sieves, mastication.