Effect of Salivary Flow on Masticatory Efficiency and Speech

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of salivary flow rate on masticatory efficiency and interocclusal distance during speech. Methods: Sixty dentate subjects were divided into 3 groups (n=20) according to the salivary flow rate: G1) normal, G2) hypo salivation and G3) hyper salivation. Subjects from G2 were under dermatologic treatment and taking systemic oral isotretinoin that presents dry mouth as a side effect. Subjects from G1 and G3 were not under any systemic medication, and hyper salivation was induced in G3 participants using 6% citric acid. Masticatory efficiency was evaluated using an artificial test material (OptosilŪ) by a sieving method, and was calculated by the weight percentage of the fragmented test food that passed through the 10-mesh sieve. The interocclusal distance during speech was evaluated using a jaw-tracking device during the pronunciation of a list of pictures containing all Brazilian Portuguese language phonemes. Data were collected and submitted to ANOVA one-way. Results: For masticatory efficiency and interocclusal distance during speech, the results revealed no differences (p>0.05) amongst groups. Conclusion: Masticatory efficiency and interocclusal distance during speech of Brazilian Portuguese language phonemes were not influenced by the salivary flow rate.

Supported by FAPESP- Grant number 05/03383-1