Influence of palatal coverage on oral function - oral stereognostic ability and masticatory efficiency

Oral sensorimotor function performs an important role in mastication. This study investigated the influence of wearing experimental palatal plates on masticatory efficiency and oral stereognostic ability (OSA), and the relationship between these two functions. Fifteen young adults with healthy dentitions (mean age, 26.4 years) participated in this study. Masticatory efficiency was determined using a sieving method and OSA test was conducted by 12 shaped forms. These tests were performed in random order under three different conditions: control (without experimental plate), Plate-A (a horseshoe-shaped and 10mm in width from the gingival cuff) and Plate-B (the entire palate was covered). The thickness of experimental plate was 1.5mm. The statistical significance level was set at P