Adaptive change in chewing‐related brain activity while wearing a palatal plate: an functional magnetic resonance imaging study

• Published in: Journal of oral rehabilitation 2017-10, Vol.44 (10), p.770-778
• Main Authors: Inamochi, Y., Fueki, K., Usui, N., Taira, M., Wakabayashi, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adaptation; Adaptation, Physiological - physiology; Adult; Bite Force; Brain mapping; Chewing; Chewing Gum; Cortex (frontal); Dentistry; Face; Female; Food; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; mastication; Mastication - physiology; motor learning; Motor skill learning; Motor task performance; Neuroimaging; Neuronal Plasticity; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Orthodontic Appliances; palatal plate; Palate; Palate - physiology; Prosthetics; Putamen; Somatosensory cortex; Somatosensory Cortex - physiology
• ISSN: 0305-182X; 1365-2842
• DOI: 10.1111/joor.12541

Summary Prosthodontic treatment success depends on patients' ability to adapt to an altered oral environment containing removable prostheses. We investigated adaptive chewing‐related brain activity changes in response to a new oral environment. Twenty‐eight fully dentate subjects (mean age: 28·6 years) wore experimental denture‐base palatal plates (3 mm thick), for 7 days. We measured food mixing ability and cycle time, and assessed brain activity by functional magnetic resonance imaging during chewing at pre‐insertion (Day 0), and immediately (Day 1), 3 days (Day 3) and 7 days (Day 7) after insertion. Food mixing ability significantly decreased and cycle time increased on Day 1 as compared to Day 0 (P