LAUSR

OBJECTIVE The aim: The aim of this work is assessment of masticatory efficacy in patients with oral tumors with different localization and severity. PATIENTS AND METHODS Materials and methods: The analysis of masticatory efficiency in dynamics was carried out with the help of two-color chewing gum in 29 patients with tumors of the tongue, oral mucosa and mandible. The study was performed at the time of hospitalization and on day 7 after surgery. RESULTS Results: After surgery, masticatory parameters decreased compared to baseline and did not recover on the 7th day after surgery. In patients diagnosed with stage I-III mandibular cancer, masticatory values are below 0.5 (0.34 ± 0.04; 0.28 ± 0.03; 0.24 ± 0.03), indicating poor food bolus formation (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Conclusions: This method is informative for the formation of the food bolus, which takes into account not only the presence of teeth, but also the function of the muscles involved in chewing. The extent of soft tissue defects plays a more important role in chewing than the presence of dentition and jaw defects. The presence of even 8-10 teeth on the upper and lower jaws may be sufficient for satisfactory grinding and chewing, with a mixed fraction of up to 0.75.