LAUSR

Objective This study aimed to determine if oral dryness is associated with oral pain sensitivity in removable denture wearers. Materials and methods The pressure pain threshold (PPT) in the mucosa at the midline between the central incisors in the maxilla and mandible was evaluated in 333 removable denture wearers (mean age 71.2 years, male 33.3%). The frequency of oral dryness and severity of anxiety were evaluated using self-reported questionnaires. Multilevel analyses considering the correlated data structure (jaws nested within individual) adjusted for age, sex, number of missing teeth, anxiety level, smoking status, and systemic diseases were performed to examine the association between PPT and oral dryness. Further subgroup analysis stratified by number of missing teeth was performed. Results Oral dryness was present in 122 (21.6%) of 566 jaws in 73 (21.9%) of the 333 subjects. The mean (standard deviation) of the log PPT was 2.00 (0.26) in the subjects who perceived oral dryness and 2.04 (0.22) in those who did not. Oral dryness was associated with a lower log PPT, but the relationship was not significant (coefficient − 0.017; 95% confidence interval − 0.071, 0.038). Subjects with oral dryness and edentulous oral mucosa had a significantly lower PPT (coefficient − 0.145; 95% confidence interval − 0.283, − 0.006) than their partially dentate counterparts. Conclusion There was a significant association of oral dryness with increased pressure pain sensitivity in the oral mucosa only in jaws with complete dentures. Clinical relevance The approach to oral dryness could contribute to reduction of oral pain sensitivity.