Most removable partial denture (RPD) wearers are satisfied with their prostheses, but the factors that influence satisfaction and acceptance are still not determined.Objective:This study explored technical, biological, and satisfaction variables for the functioning of RPDs after five years, and compared the evaluation by the patient and by the clinician.Materials and Methods:Fifty adults (39 females, 11 males) were reexamined after five years of RPD service. Data were collected through clinical examination and a structured questionnaire to record the conditions of supporting soft tissues, prosthesis acceptance and technical characteristics, mastication, esthetics, comfort, hygiene, and need for professional intervention. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation.Results:More than 50% of patients classified their RPDs as excellent regarding retention, mastication, esthetics, comfort, and hygiene. In the professional evaluation, retention and stability were considered excellent in more than 66% of cases, and hygiene of teeth and prostheses was considered good in 52% and 46%, respectively. The metallic framework and acrylic base were considered adapted in 92% of cases. Prosthesis acceptance was associated with retention, mastication, esthetics, hygiene, and comfort evaluated by the patient, and with retention, stability, and condition of the framework evaluated by the clinician. Retention and mastication/comfort evaluated by the patient had moderate positive correlation with retention and stability measured by the clinician. There was no association of hygiene evaluation by the patient and by the clinician.Conclusions:After five years, the oral rehabilitation with RPDs was satisfactory for most cases. There was correspondence between retention/retention and mastication-comfort/stability variables evaluated by the patient and by the clinician. Oral and prosthesis hygiene were not related.

Purpose: To describe a kinesiologic EMG method and determine the reliability of EMG activity of representative muscles of mastication (temporal, masseter), posture of neck (sternocleidomastoid, trapezius) and trunk (rectus abdominis, paravertebral), and lower extremity strength (rectus femoris, medial gastrocnemius) during simulation of activities of daily living.Methods: Ten edentulous healthy women (age: 58.2±5.6 yr old) were tested with and without their dentures. EMG signals were recorded for each subject during three trials of each kinesiologic test: to stand up/sit down on a chair (TC), to rise/lie down in the bed (TB), and to lift/lower bags (TW). The same-day reprodutibility of the EMG values was estimated by test-retest reliability analyses. For each test (TC, TB, and TW) the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and 95% confidence interval were estimated stratified by muscle, presence or not of complete dentures, and movement during the test (up and down) considering the three repetitions per subject to assess consistency.Results: All muscles showed activation during the tests. The method yielded moderate to high ICCs; the highest test-retest reliability levels were estimated for the sternocleidomastoid (0.82-0.97) and paravertebral (0.86-0.99) muscles.Conclusion: These findings suggest that the described kinesiologic EMG method showed satisfactory reliability in this sample.Key words: Electromyography; complete dentures; activities of daily living ResumoObjetivo: Descrever uma metodologia de EMG cinesiológica e determinar a reprodutibilidade da atividade eletromiográfica dos músculos mastigatórios (m. temporal e m. masseter), posturais do pescoço (mm. esternocleidomastoideo e trapézio), posturais do tronco (mm. reto abdominal e paravertebrais) e de força das extremidades inferiores (mm. reto femoral e gastrocnemius medial) durante simulação de atividades de vida diária (AVDs).Metodologia: A amostra foi constituída por dez mulheres saudáveis, usuárias de prótese total bimaxilar, com idade média de 58,2 anos. Foram realizados três testes AVDs: levantar/ sentar da cadeira (TCAD), levantar/deitar na cama (TCAM) e pegar/largar sacolas (TSAC). A reprodutibilidade dos valores EMG foi analisada por teste-reteste. Para cada teste AVD foram estimados coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (CCIC) e intervalo de confiança de 95% com estratificação por músculo, condição com e sem prótese (suporte oclusal) e movimento durante o teste, considerando três repetições por sujeito para avaliar consistência.

Occlusal support may influence muscular function during complex motor tasks. This study evaluated the duration and sequence of muscular activation of masticatory (temporal, masseter), postural head/neck (sternocleidomastoid, trapezius), postural trunk (rectus abdominis, paravertebrals), and low extremity strength (rectus femoris, gastrocnemius) muscles during simulation of activities of daily living (ADL) in edentulous women wearing complete dentures (n = 10) and in dentate women (n = 10). Electromyographic activity was recorded during tests of stand‐up/sit down in the Chair, sit up/lie down in the Bed and lift/lower Bags. Occlusal support (dentures) had a significant effect on duration of muscular activation in the Chair Test: the masseter muscle activated longer with dentures during the standing movement. The masseter and sternocleidomastoid muscles showed significant alteration in their order of activation in non‐denture‐wearing women. For the Bed Test, dentures had significant effect for the gastrocnemius during the sitting‐up phase and for the rectus abdominis during the lying‐down movement. For the Bag Test, head/neck muscles were activated in a different order as a function of occlusal support. Anticipation of activation of the paravertebral muscles, rectus abdominis, and gastrocnemius was observed in dentate women compared with denture wearers. These findings suggest that occlusal support influences electromyographic activity of some muscles during simulation of ADL.