Edentulism is one of the debilitating states affecting a significant portion of the geriatric population. It is often considered as the ultimate marker for predicting the pressure and burden on oral health. Respiration is also a routine vital function running continuously through the human body and most commonly assessed by a spirometer. Hence, we planned the present study to assess the impact of complete dentures on the functioning of the respiratory system.

In the present study, a spirometric assessment of the effect of complete dentures on respiratory performance was done. A total of 100 subjects were included, and diagnostic spirometer was used for carrying out the spirometric test at different stages of each subject. The spirometric test was carried out at four different stages: In the absence of both the denture (AODs), with both the dentures (maxillary and mandibular) inserted in the patient's mouth (BDs), with only maxillary denture inserted in the oral cavity (UDs), and finally, by inserting only the mandibular dentures in the oral cavity (LDs). Forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% (FEF_25—75) were evaluated. All the results were compiled and assessed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software.

Of the total 100 subjects included in the study, 42 were males and 58 were females. The mean FVC values of AOD, BD, LD, and UD group were 3.10, 3.02, 2.90, and 2.93 respectively. The mean PEF values of AOD, BD, LD, and UD group were 5.79, 5.60, 5.40, and 5.48 respectively; 2.39, 2.35, 2.33, and 2.32 were the mean FEV1 values observed in AOD, BD, LD, and UD group respectively. Statistically significant results were obtained while comparing AOD—FVC and BD—FVC and other oral conditions.

Spirometric values of respiratory functional tests in edentulous patients might be unfavorably affected by wearing complete dentures.

Since subjects without complete dentures exhibited a maximum value of respiratory functional test, respiratory exercise protocols should also be carried in denture-wearing edentulous patients for increasing the performance of the respiratory system.

Indrakumar HS, Venkatesh D, Adoni VV, Kashyap R, Jayanthi D, Prakash N. Spirometric Assessment of Impact of Complete Dentures on Respiratory Performance: An in vitro Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2018;19(2):177-180.