Impact of Soft Liners on Bite Force in Complete Denture Wearers: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Edentulism is a significant global oral health concern, particularly among elderly individuals. Complete dentures are widely used to restore oral functionality, esthetics, and quality of life. The incorporation of soft liners into complete dentures has been proposed as a means of improving patient comfort and reducing the pressure on the oral mucosa. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the maximum bite force (MBF) in patients wearing complete dentures with and without soft liners for over six months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four completely edentulous patients participated in this prospective cohort study, divided into two groups: Group 1 (n=22) received complete dentures with long-term, heat-cured, plasticized acrylic liners (Permasoft, Dentsply International, York, PA, USA) and Group 2 (n=22) received conventional complete dentures without liners. MBF was recorded at two months (T0) and six months (T1) after denture delivery. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests for intragroup comparisons and independent t-tests for intergroup comparisons. RESULTS: Group 1 demonstrated a significant increase in MBF, from 46.07±12.28 N at T0 to 66.34±13.81 newtons (N) at T1 (P=0.021). Similarly, Group 2 exhibited an increase in MBF, from 38.32±12.61 N at T0 to 49.41±10.89 N at T1 (P=0.001). Intergroup comparisons revealed significantly higher MBF in Group 1 than in Group 2 at both time points, with a mean difference of 16.93 N (P=0.001) at T1. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the use of soft liners in complete dentures significantly increased MBF over six months compared with conventional dentures. These findings underscore the clinical value of soft liners in improving denture performance and patient outcomes.