Comparative evaluation of oral stereognostic ability in complete denture and over denture subjects -an in vivo study

Aim: Evaluation of the oral stereognostic ability of complete dentures patients over patients wearing over dentures. Study design: The study is an in vivo comparative study. Materials and Methods: In the present study, oral stereognostic tests were carried out on 20 subjects. Out of the 20 subjects 10 patients were complete denture wearers and 10 patients were overdenture wearers. For each patient oral streognostic test was done without the denture and with the denture. The patients were blindfolded and one random test specimen was placed on the mid dorsum of the tongue. Stopwatch was started as soon as the test piece made contact with the tongue. Subjects were allowed to freely manipulate the test piece in the mouth. Within a 15 second patient had to point to the shape on the paper sheet .Then all six test specimens were presented in the random order. Scores were given. Then patient is asked to wear a complete denture and same procedure is followed. Results: Data obtained from oral stereognostic ability test were statistically analyzed and found out that stereognostic test ability in overdenture was significantly more than complete denture. Conclusion: We concluded that patient using overdenture have better stereognostic abilities than complete denture.