Effect of edentulism on spirometric tests

The impact of denture wear in edentulous subjects while performing routine spirometric measurements has never been systematically investigated. We com pared the values of FVC, FEV1, PEFR, FEF50%, FIV1, and FIF50% recorded with and without dentures in three groups of edentulous subjects: 36 asymptomat ic subjects with normal spirometry CN), 22 patients with chronic obstructiv e pulmonary disease (COPD), and 18 with interstitial lung disease (ILD). In 14 subjects retropharyngeal space with and without dentures was assessed b y cephalometry. Subjects with N and ILD had significantly fewer airflow rat es without dentures, whereas subjects with COPD had no significant differen ce in spirometric values recorded with or without dentures. The retropharyn geal space was significantly decreased by removing dentures (from 1.52 +/- 0.07 to 1.16 +/- 0.09 cm, SEM, p < 0.0001). These findings indicate that in edentulous subjects with a normal or restrictive pattern, the recording of flow-volume curves with or without dentures produces small but significant differences. Although such differences do not appear to have clinical sign ificance, the fact that when dentures are used some respiratory flows are h igher would favor the use of dentures in edentulous subjects during spirome tric evaluation.