High oral perception is thought to contribute to poor adaptation to new dentures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oral stereognosis and tactile sensibility in edentate subjects and relate these to patient age and capability of adaptation to new prostheses. A total of 67 patients were provided with new complete dentures 2-3 weeks before the experiment. In 54 subjects, the oral stereognosis was evaluated by 12 different test-pieces, which were placed unseen on the tongue and had to be recognized. In 38 patients, the oral tactile sensibility was determined in the premolar area using copper foils. The capability of adaptation was evaluated by a questionnaire. Denture retention was assessed by clinical examination. The number of correctly identified test-pieces and the average identification time were related to the age, but no relation was found to patients' capability of adaptation. The tactile sensibility was found to be impaired with age and diminished capability of adaptation. Both adaptation and oral tactile sensibility were significantly lower in subjects with poor lower-denture retention. In conclusion, the results cannot support a relationship between high oral stereognosis and adaptation problems. However, good denture retention facilitates the adaptation process.

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