Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 2006 33; 8–16
Effect of palate covering on bolus-propulsion time and its
contributory factors
Y. KODAIRA, K. ISHIZAKI & K. SAKURAI
College, Chiba, Japan
SUMMARY The aim of this study was first to investi-
gate whether the covering of the palatal mucosa
with a denture base affects or not the bolus-propul-
sion time, and second if there was such an effect
then investigate the possible contributory factors
which have influence on the propulsion time. The
propulsion time was measured in 21 young normal
edentulous subjects under five different conditions:
a complete palatal covering, non-covered palate,
anterior palatal covering, posterior palatal covering
and surface anaesthetized palate. As possible con-
tributory factors palatal morphometric parameters,
as well as tongue pressure were also measured. The
data were analysed on the following way: changes
when the palate was complete covered and non-
covered, effects of sensation reduction after topic
anaesthesia, effects of differences in the covering
site, effects of palatal morphometric parameters and
effects of tongue pressure. Ten subjects exhibited
Introduction
Foods ingested into the oral cavity undergo a compli-
cated process until a bolus of food reaches the pharynx
for its swallow. In the masticatory process, saliva, lips,
tongue, dentition and hard palate work together to
form a bolus of food. This masticatory process includes
first breaking-up and grinding of food basically using
the molars, and then transporting the food using the
dentitions, tongue and cheek muscle activity. Towards
the end of the masticatory process, the triturated food
moved to the midline (aggregation shift) for bolus
formation and deglutition. In the bolus formation, all
the particles reached the suitable size and consistency to
be swallowed and moved into the pharynx by a tongue-
ª 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Department of Complete Denture Prosthodontics, Tokyo Dental
significant differences in the propulsion time when
comparing the data between the complete palatal
covering and the non-covered palate condition
(change group). Eleven subjects did not show chan-
ges (unchanged group). Effects in the propulsion
time were also recognized with posterior palatal
covering-palate and superficially anaesthetized pal-
ate. With regard to the tongue pressure, significant
differences during swallowing were observed. These
results indicated that the bolus propulsion time into
the oropharynx was affected by the palatal covering
in some subjects. Moreover, the sensation in the
posterior region of the hard palate, as well as the
tongue pressure were also factors which affected
the propulsion time during swallowing.
KEYWORDS: swallowing, palatal sensation, palatal
morphometry, tongue pressure, denture base
Accepted for publication 4 April 2005
pushing action from the posterior hard palate, to induce
a swallowing reflex (1). On the contrary, as it is well
known that the tongue and palatal mucosa are highly
sensitive to mechanical stimuli because of the presence
of numerous mechanoreceptors playing an important
role as the sensors for bolus size and its properties in the
process from food intake to swallowing.
Intra-oral food management is a major sensorimotor
task. The masticatory sequences for solid foods have
four main components: (i) stage I transport, in which
food is ingested and positioned on the occlusal surface if
reduction is required; (ii) processing in which tritura-
tion occurs; (iii) oropharyngeal accumulation time, in
which food ready for bolus formation is moved
distally through the fauces (stage II transport); (iii)
8
 EFFECT OF PALATE COVERING ON BOLUS-PROPULSION TIME
hypopharyngeal transit time, in which the bolus is
swallowed (2).
The upper complete denture is widely used in
prosthodontic treatment. This type of denture covers
the major area of palatal mucosa where a great number
of mechanoreceptors are densely distributed (3, 4).
Covering the palatal mucosa with a denture base causes
several physiological and functional disturbances such
as unpleasantness, gag reflex and poor tongue recogni-
tion (5). Accordingly it can be considered that masti-
catory and swallowing functions are susceptible to
changes in the intra-oral environment. However, the
effects of wearing an upper complete denture on the
masticatory and swallowing functions have not yet
been fully analysed.
Therefore, we established the hypothesis that cov-
ering the palatal mucosa by a denture base may affect
the movement of the bolus, especially by influencing
the tongue pushing action necessary to move the
bolus from the oral cavity to the oropharynx. In order
to corroborate this hypothesis, the bolus-propulsion
time, defined in this study as the time necessary to
move the bolus from the oral cavity to the orophar-
ynx just before the onset of the swallowing reflex,
was measured. Thus, the main purpose of this study
was to investigate whether the covering of the palatal
mucosa with an experimental denture base affects or
not the above mentioned bolus-propulsion time.
Moreover, if our hypothesis is confirmed, then the
second purpose was to clarify the possible factors,
which have influence on the propulsion time. Having
elucidated the above-mentioned hypothesis, we have
obtained important information for the design of
dentures, and management of patients, especially
when giving instructions to patients at the time of
denture’s insertions and coping with patients having
dysphagia.
Materials and methods
Subjects
Twenty-one subjects (12 males and 9 females, mean
age; 25 years, age range; 22–29 years) were investi-
gated. All subjects gave their written informed consent
to participate in this study prior to the experiments.
Those subjects who showed hyperactive gag reflexes
subjectively and objectively were excluded from this
study.
ª 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 33; 8–16
9
Experimental ethics
The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of
Tokyo Dental College. All experiments were done in
accordance with the Edinburgh Revision of Helsinki
Declaration.
Measurement tasks
Measurement of propulsion time Within the context of this
study, in the swallowing process, the bolus-propulsion
time (referred from now as ‘propulsion time’) was
defined as the time necessary to move the food bolus
from the oral cavity through the tongue pushing action
into the oropharynx, before the swallowing reflex
starts. This propulsion time was measured under
different intraoral conditions explained in the experi-
mental design. The experimental protocol is shown in
Fig. 1.
A mandibular movement analysing device (Gnaso-
hexagraph JM-1000G)* and an electromyograph (EMG)
(EMG-2100)† were used to measure the propulsion time
by measuring the vertical incisal path of mandibular
movement and the EMG activity of the anterior digastric
muscle. Bipolar surface electrodes were placed across the
direction of the muscle fibres, over the anterior digastric
muscle determined by palpation from the suprahyoid
muscles. For measurement purposes the propulsion time
was defined here as the time from the onset of the closing
movement from the rest position (point A, Fig. 2) to the
EMG maximum value of the anterior digastric muscle
(point B, Fig. 2). The masseter muscle EMG activity and
swallowing sound were also simultaneously recorded, as
indicators of the swallowing reflex onset. The swallowing
sound was recorded at the lateral area of the trachea,
immediately below the cricoid cartilage, by means of a
microphone included in the mandibular movement
analysing device used in this study.
Experimental design The intra-oral conditions used were:
(i) non-covered palate condition (control); (ii) complete
palatal covering condition: the entire hard palate was
covered with an experimental base; (iii) surface anaes-
thesia condition: where the hard palate was topically
anaesthetized (NEO ZALOCAIN
PASTE)‡; (iv) anterior
*GC, Tokyo, Japan.
†
Nihon Kohden, Tokyo, Japan.
‡
Neo Dental Chemical Products, Tokyo, Japan.
10 Y . K O D A I R A et al.

25 healthy dentulous subjects

(16 males, 9 females; mean age: 25 years)
Informed consent

Exclusion critena: persons showing hyperactive

gag reflexes were excluded from this study

21 subjects were investigated 4 subjects were excluded

1.Changes in the bolus propulsion time due to covering the palate by

an experimental denture base were investigated. Based on the
results, subjects were divided into two groups

The change group The unchanged group (control)

Bolus propulsion time changed Bolus propulsion time did not
due to palatal covering change

2. Assessment of the factors which were considered to have influence

on the changes in the propulsion time due to palatal covering, in both
groups
1) Relation between the effect of blocking the palatal mechanical sensation
by mean of surface anaesthesia and changes on propulsion time
2) Relation between the effect of the differences in the palatal covering
area (anterior and posterior palatal covering condition) and changes on
propulsion time
3) Comparison of differences in the palatal morphometric features
between groups: posterior coronal arch width, posterior coronal arch
length, palatal depth palate surface area, palatal capacity

4) Comparison of tongue pressures between groups, during two

conditions: maximum voluntary tongue pressure and tongue pressure
during swallowing Fig. 1. The experimental protocol.

palatal covering condition; the anterior part of the hard
palate was covered with an experimental base; (v)
posterior palatal covering condition: the posterior part
of the hard palate was covered with an experimental
base. The experimental bases were made of cast cobalt–
chromium alloy and the thickness was 0Æ5 mm at the
maximum. The bases were designed to be supported by
the palatal surface of teeth in order to prevent their
sinking into the mucosa (Fig. 3). All the experimental
bases were set intraorally just before start the record-
ings, in order to examine the immediate effects of
denture bases on the propulsion time.
For the surface anaesthesia condition, a superficial
anaesthesia paste was used. It was applied on the hard
palate through a cotton pellet, in the same area that
was covered by the experimental denture during the
complete palatal covering condition. Once the palatal
mucosa was successfully anaesthetized, the anaesthesia
paste was thoroughly removed.
Gelatine drink (Gokkun jelly grapeflavour)§ (5 mL)
was selected as it can be swallowed without mastica-
tion, it is easy to manage and control its intraoral
position before measurement and can be swallowed in
a single motion. It was used at a room temperature and
ejected into the oral cavity by a plastic syringe
(TERUMO syringe
5 mL ss-05Sz)¶. Each subject
swallowed the test food according to our instructions,
§
Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho, Nagoya, Japan.
¶
Terumo, Tokyo, Japan.

ª 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 33; 8–16

 EFFECT OF PALATE COVERING ON BOLUS-PROPULSION TIME
Fig. 2. Schema of the analytic pro-
cedure for the recording of the pro-
pulsion time. Point A: onset of the
closing movement from the mandib-
ular resting position. Point B: maxi-
mum electromyographic (EMG)
value of the anterior digastric muscle.
(a) (b)
Fig. 3. Experimental denture bases covering different regions of the hard palate: (a) complete palatal covering condition; (b) anterior
palatal covering condition; (c) posterior palatal covering condition.
10 times under each intra-oral condition to measure the
propulsion time.
Palatal morphometric features A three-dimensional
reconstruction system** was used to measure the
palatal’s morphological factors. The subjects’ maxillary
casts were measured with a non-contact three-dimen-
sional shape measurement system (SURFLACER Model
VMS – 100)**, followed by a three-dimensional recon-
struction analyzer (Imageware Ver9)††. The following
parameters were measured:
1. Posterior coronal arch width: Distance between the
right and left maxillary first molar central pits.
2. Posterior coronal arch length: Vertical distance from the
incisal margin of maxillary central incisor to the line
between the right and left maxillary first molar central
pits.
**Unison, Osaka, Japan.
††
Tokyo Boeki Techno-System, Tokyo, Japan.
ª 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 33; 8–16
11
(c)
3. Palatal depth: Distance from the midpoint between
the right and left maxillary of the first molar central pits
to the palate through a vertical line to the palate.
4. Palate surface area: Area surrounded by a line
connecting the palatal gingival margin and the Ah-line.
5. Palatal capacity: The capacity surrounded by the
palatal surface area (region surrounded by a line
connecting the palatal gingival margin and the
Ah-line), the posterior plane (region surrounded by a
line connecting the farthest distal points of the right and
left last molar gingival margin and the Ah-line) and the
superior plane (region surrounded by a line connecting
the palatal gingival margin and a line connecting the
farthest distal points of the right and left last molar
gingival margin).
Tongue pressure measurement Subjects were asked to sit
upright in a dental chair in order to measure the
maximum voluntary tongue pressure and the tongue
pressure during swallowing based on the method
12 Y . K O D A I R A et al.
described by Hayashi et al. (6). These pressures were
recorded three times under each of the intraoral
conditions explained before. For the maximum volun-
tary tongue pressure recordings, the subjects were
instructed to compress a specially designed small
balloon between the tongue and the anterior part of
the hard palate for 7 s with their maximum voluntary
tongue effort. To record tongue pressure during swal-
lowing, the subjects were instructed to swallow 5 mL of
gelatine drink§ (Gokkun jelly grapeflavor), as naturally
as possible with the balloon pre-placed between the
tongue and the anterior part of the palate, and the
peak value of tongue pressure during swallowing was
recorded.
Data collection
Effect of palatal mucosa covering on propulsion time: First,
the propulsion time was measured under the complete
palatal covering condition and the non-covered palate
condition (control) in order to determine whether the
propulsion time changes or not. Based on the obtained
results, subjects were classified into two groups: (i) the
change group: those whose propulsion time was affec-
ted by the palatal covering condition and (ii) the
unchanged group: the propulsion time did not change
by the palatal covering condition.
Contributory factors, which affect the propulsion time when
the palate is covered: (i) Effects of blocking the palatal
mechanical sensation: to investigate the effects of block-
ing the palatal mechanical sensation on the propulsion
time, the propulsion time under surface anaesthesia was
and its relation with changes in the propulsion time due
to complete palatal covering was assessed in both groups.
(ii) Effects of difference in the palatal covering site: the
propulsion times under in the anterior palatal covering
condition and the posterior palatal covering condition
were measured in both groups; the relation between
changes in the propulsion time in the complete palatal
covering and different palatal covering sites was evalu-
ated. (iii) Effects of differences in palatal morphometric
features: palatal morphometric features were compared
between the change group and the unchanged group.
(iv) Effects of tongue pressures: tongue pressure values
were compared between the change group and the
unchanged group.
§ ‡‡
Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho, Nagoya, Japan.
ª 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 33; 8–16
Statistical analysis
The analysis of the data for comparing the propulsion
time between the control condition (non-covered pal-
ate) and any of the intra-oral conditions (i.e. complete
palatal covering condition, surface anaesthesia condi-
tion, anterior palatal covering condition and posterior
palatal covering condition) for each subject was per-
formed using a Student’s t-test (P < 0Æ05). Fisher’s exact
test (P < 0Æ05) was employed to analyse the relation
between changes in the propulsion time (i.e. the change
group and the unchanged group) and the surface
anaesthesia condition, anterior palatal covering condi-
tion, or posterior palatal covering condition. Student’s
t-test (P < 0Æ05) was used to compare the difference in
the palatal morphometry between the change group
and the unchanged group as well as the difference in
tongue pressure (during maximum voluntary pressure
and during swallowing) between the two groups The
software used was SPSS for Windows 11Æ00 J‡‡.
Results
Ten of 21 subjects exhibited a significant difference in
the propulsion time between the control condition and
the complete palatal covering condition (P < 0Æ05),
becoming longer under the complete palatal covering
condition 11 subjects showed no significant difference
(Table 1).
(i) The changes in the propulsion time because of
complete palatal mucosa covering in both the change
group and the unchanged group and the effect of
blocking the palatal mechanical sensation showed a
significant relation (P ¼ 0Æ03) (Fig. 4a). In the change
group the propulsion time of eight of 10 subjects was
influenced by the surface anaesthesia, in contrast to
three of 11 subjects from the unchanged group. (ii) The
relation between changes in the propulsion time
because of complete palatal mucosa covering in both
groups and differences in palatal covering site did not
show a significant relation under the anterior palatal
covering condition (P ¼ 0Æ198) as shown in Fig. 4.
However, a significant relation under the posterior
palatal covering condition (P ¼ 0Æ008) was observed.
Nine of 10 subjects from the change group showed
changes in their propulsion time under the posterior
palatal covering condition (Fig. 4c). (iii) Morphometric
SPSS, Illinois, USA.
 EFFECT OF PALATE COVERING ON BOLUS-PROPULSION TIME 13

Table 1. Propulsion time data obtained from all the subjects from the oral cavity to the oropharynx, we measured
under the control condition and the complete palatal covering the changes in the propulsion time when the palate was
condition
covered by an experimental base and compared with
control (non-covered palate condition). It was found
Propulsion time (s) (mean
s.d.)
that the bolus propulsion time was prolonged in the
Complete palatal majority of subjects whose propulsion time was affected
Subject no. Control covering condition P-value
by the palatal covering. These results concur with a
Change group previous study (7), which stated that the palatal
1 0Æ98
0Æ28 1Æ61
0Æ11 <0Æ05 mucosa is highly sensitive to mechanical stimulus
2 0Æ68
0Æ17 1Æ63
0Æ26 <0Æ05 because of the presence of an extent number of
6 1Æ04
0Æ15 1Æ57
0Æ14 <0Æ05
mechanoreceptors. This palatal mucosa area together
9 1Æ34
0Æ22 1Æ56
0Æ20 <0Æ05
11 1Æ18
0Æ18 1Æ65
0Æ33 <0Æ05 with the tongue area considered to play an important
12 0Æ66
0Æ12 0Æ95
0Æ29 <0Æ05 role in the recognition of food. Then covering this area
15 0Æ68
0Æ11 0Æ96
0Æ18 <0Æ05 by means of a denture base was considered to have
17 0Æ91
0Æ13 1Æ19
0Æ13 <0Æ05 influence on the propulsion time, as actually was
18 1Æ19
0Æ12 1Æ43
0Æ18 <0Æ05
demonstrated in this study.
20 0Æ77
0Æ14 0Æ97
0Æ17 <0Æ05
To measure the effect of palatal covering on the
Unchanged group propulsion time, experimental denture bases were
3 1Æ38
0Æ39 1Æ49
0Æ25 NS
made and their thickness was selected based on a
4 1Æ07
0Æ23 0Æ98
0Æ21 NS
5 1Æ02
0Æ23 1Æ08
0Æ09 NS
previous study (8) which reported that the experimen-
7 1Æ22
0Æ29 1Æ33
0Æ23 NS tal bases thickness of 0Æ5 mm or less produced little or
8 1Æ44
0Æ15 1Æ57
0Æ27 NS any unpleasant feeling to the tongue (4). In this study
10 1Æ07
0Æ24 1Æ20
0Æ10 NS we focused on the assessment of the immediate effect of
13 1Æ27
0Æ13 1Æ35
0Æ33 NS covering on the propulsion time. It has been reported
14 0Æ95
0Æ18 0Æ92
0Æ25 NS
(9) that healthy non-elderly subjects have the capacity
16 1Æ02
0Æ11 1Æ14
0Æ21 NS
19 1Æ31
0Æ09 1Æ40
0Æ16 NS to quickly adapt to intra-oral environment changes
21 1Æ22
0Æ19 1Æ33
0Æ18 NS (i.e. denture insertion). Meanwhile it takes time for
elderly subjects to adapt to changes in the oral cavity. In
NS, not significant.
order to assess these post-insertion immediate effects,
the experimental bases were intraorally placed just
data for the palate are presented in Table 2. As it can be before start the recordings. From our results we found
observed no significant differences were shown in any that almost half of the subjects investigated exhibited
of the five morphometric parameters assessed between changes in their propulsion time because of the cover-
the change group and the unchanged group. (iv) ing of the palatal mucosa. We considered these results
Results obtained from tongue pressure measurements are of great clinical significance. Additionally, we
data are summarized in Table 2. When the results of considered that further investigations must be carried
tongue pressure during swallowing were compared out focused on how this adaptation change with the
between the change and the unchanged group signifi- progress of time (i.e. changes on the propulsion time
cant difference was observed (P ¼ 0Æ045). Subjects from decrease progressively) or the time necessary to get
the change group showed lower tongue pressure during adapted to the new intraoral environment.
swallowing than unchanged group. In contrast to this, Moreover, we found that blocking the palatal
no significant differences between groups were found mechanical sensation by means of a surface anaesthesia
for the maximum voluntary tongue pressure (Fig. 5). had also influence on the propulsion time. However,
about half of the subjects did not show changes in their
propulsion time, neither with palatal covering nor with
Discussion
surface anaesthesia. Based on these findings we
As mentioned in the introduction section, to confirm assumed that there were factors other than blocking
our hypothesis that covering the hard palatal mucosa the palatal sensation, such as palatal covering area,
by a denture base may affect the movement of the bolus palatal morphometric features and tongue pressure,

ª 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 33; 8–16

14 Y . K O D A I R A et al.

(a) 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Change group 8/10 2/10

Unchanged group 3/11 8/11

Surface anaesthesia condition: Influence Surface anaesthesia condition: no influence

(b) 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Change group 6/10 4/10

Unchanged group 3/11 8/11

Fig. 4. The relation of three different

Anterior covering condition: Influence Anterior covering condition: no influence intraoral conditions to changes in the
propulsion time. (a) Relation
between the changes in the propul-
(c) 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
sion time because of complete palatal
covering and the surface anaesthesia
Change group 9/10 1/10 condition; (b) relation between the
changes in the propulsion time
because of complete palatal covering
and the anterior palatal covering
Unchanged group
condition; (c) relation between the
3/11 8/11
changes in the propulsion time
because of complete palatal covering
and the posterior palatal covering
Posterior covering condition: Influence Posterior covering condition: No influence
condition.

Table 2. Measurements of the rela-

Factors Group Mean
s.d. P-value
tion of possible contributory factors
Posterior coronal Change 50Æ2
3Æ3 mm NS to changes in the propulsion time in
arch width Unchanged 49Æ9
3Æ3 mm both groups
Posterior coronal arch length Change 30Æ5
2Æ5 mm NS
Unchanged 31Æ5
3Æ3 mm
Palatal depth Change 17Æ0
3Æ5 mm NS
Unchanged 15Æ1
2Æ5 mm
Palate surface area Change 2080
324 mm2 NS
Unchanged 1931
382 mm2
Palatal capacity Change 12190
3073 mm3 NS
Unchanged 11052
2618 mm3
Maximum voluntary tongue pressure Change 49Æ3
8Æ8 kPa NS
Unchanged 51Æ3
9Æ2 kPa
Tongue pressure during swallowing Change 13Æ3
4Æ3 kPa <0Æ05
Unchanged 18Æ7
7Æ1 kPa

NS, not significant.

ª 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 33; 8–16

 EFFECT OF PALATE COVERING ON BOLUS-PROPULSION TIME
*: Significant difference (P < 0·05)
S.D
60·0
40·0 * power. It has been reported that elderly persons, who
kPa
20·0
0·0
Change Unchanged Change Unchanged
Maximum voluntary Tongue pressure during
tongue pressure swallowing
Fig. 5. Comparison of tongue pressure between the change group
and the unchanged group.
which could influence the propulsion time. No relation
was found between changes in the propulsion time and
the anterior palatal covering condition, despite of the
presence of numerous mechanoreceptors in the rugae
area. In contrast to this, covering the palatal posterior
area showed a significant relation to changes on the
propulsion time. It has been reported (3, 4) that
mechanoreceptors are predominantly distributed in
the anterior part of the hard palate and the soft
posterior palate, playing an important role in the
recognition of food, together with the tongue (7). As
the mechanoreceptors from the anterior palatal area
basically function as sensors of food properties, we
considered that they are not involved in the propulsion
of bolus from the oral cavity to the oropharynx.
Meanwhile the mechanoreceptors presented in the
palatal posterior area were assumed to be related to the
bolus propulsion into the oropharynx. This can explain
the results obtained in this study.
With regard to the palatal morphometric features,
we presumed that differences in palatal morphometry
among subjects could have some effect on the
propulsion time. However, the results showed that
they did not significantly differ among subjects, thus
we considered they have no influence on the propul-
sion time.
Tongue pressure was also assessed as a possible
contributory factor under two conditions, as explained
before. From our investigation we found that tongue
pressure did not significantly differ between groups on
maximum voluntary tongue pressure condition. How-
ever, during swallowing, there was a significant
difference between groups. Results showed that the
change group had in average a lower tongue pressure
than the unchanged group. These findings suggest that
ª 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 33; 8–16
15
subjects having lower tongue pressure during swal-
lowing are largely affected by changes in the intra-oral
environment because of their weaker bolus-propulsion
frequently wear dentures, require large amounts of
energy to produce adequate tongue pressure because
of a decrease in the muscle activity (10). Decreased
tongue pressure associated with ageing has been also
reported (11, 12). Our results indicate that the
propulsion time of subjects with lower tongue pressure
during swallowing was affected by covering the palatal
mucosa by an experimental base. Therefore, when
designing dentures during dental prosthetic treat-
ments, the swallowing process should be kept in
mind. As previously mentioned, elderly subjects have
ageing-associated depression of swallowing function,
such as a decrease in the lingual motor function (13),
decreased tongue pressure (11, 12), reduced sensory
function of the oropharyngeal region (14, 15) and
a prolongation of the time required for swallowing
(16–18), besides having a high usage rate of dentures.
The prolongation of the propulsion time because of a
palatal covering by a denture base is considered to
produce a delay in the timing of propulsion and
transportation of food bolus into the oropharynx.
Consequently, we considered that if the timing is
substantially affected, then the risk of aspiration of
ingested food might increase. Accordingly, as the
intraoral presence of new dentures would fairly affect
the bolus propulsion time and consequently the
swallowing process, proper instructions for mastication
and swallowing should be provided to patients during
the insertion of new dentures, especially in the case of
elderly patients. Further investigation focused on how
the adaptation to changes in the intraoral environ-
ment change with the progress of time (i.e. changes
on the propulsion time decrease progressively) or the
time necessary to get adapted to a new intraoral
environment, should be carried out.
From our results we can conclude that:
1. Covering the palatal mucosa by an experimental base
affected the bolus-propulsion time in about half of the
subjects investigated.
2. Blocking the mechanical sensation of the posterior
palatal region by a posterior palatal covering base
showed to have relation to changes in the propulsion
time.
3. Lower tongue pressure during swallowing was also a
factor, which contributed to changes in propulsion time.
16 Y . K O D A I R A et al.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the subjects for their kind cooper-
ation in this study. We also thank Dr Mutsumi
Takagiwa (Associate Professor, Mathematics Laborat-
ory, Tokyo Dental College) for his instruction of
statistical analysis and Department of Advanced Pros-
thodontics, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences,
(Hiroshima University) for allowing us to use their
novel handy probe for tongue pressure measurement.
Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho Co., Ltd. (Nagoya, Japan) is
also acknowledged for their kind gifts of test foods. This
work was supported by the grant from the Promotion
and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private School of
Japan.
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Correspondence: Dr Yorika Kodaira, Department of Complete Denture
Prosthodontics, Tokyo Dental College, 1-2-2 Masago, Mihama-ku,
Chiba city, Chiba, 261-8502, Japan.
E-mail: ykodaira@tdc.ac.jp