Functions- Feeding

Question 1

What is ingestion?

Answer 1

The movement of food from the external environment into the mouth?

Question 2

What muscle provides an anterior oral seal for the mouth?

Answer 2

The orbicularis oris

Question 3

How is food transported by the tongue to the posterior teeth?

Answer 3

Food is gathered on the tip of the tounge.

The tounge then retracts, pulling material to the posterior teeth.

Question 4

discuss the acuracy of the name muscles of mastication?

Answer 4

Muscles of mastication is not accurate as there are many other muscles involved in food processing:

tounge muscles

lip and cheek muscles

supra-hyoid muscles

mandibular muscles

Question 5

Describe the action of the tongue in chewing.

Answer 5

1. Tongue gathers the bolus on the tip
2. The tongue tips to move the bolus onto the occlusal table.
3. Tongue works with the cheeks to keep the bolus on chewing surfaces.

Question 6

How does the tounge move chewed food back in the mouth?

Answer 6

1. The forward movement of the tongue creates a contact point with the tounge and hard palate.
2. The contact point of the tongue and hard palate moves backwards moving the chewed food with it.
3. The processed food is squeezed through the fauces and accumulates on the pharyngeal part of the tongue.
4. Food remains on the pharyngeal surface of the tongue until swallowing occurs.

Question 7

Compare the anatomical difference when swallowing solid foods and liquid.

Answer 7

For Solid foods the mouth is continuous with the oropharynx,

For Liquids there is a posterior seal produced

Question 8

Discuss the posterior seal produced in the mouth?

Answer 8

This allows liquid to be swallowed without needing transport to the back of the mouth.

It also prevents liquid from leaking into the oropharynx.

Question 9

Describe the chewing cycle

Answer 9

There are 3 phases of the chewing cycle:

• Opening phase (when the jaw depresser muscles are active)
• Closing phase (when the jaw elevator muscles are active)
• Occlusal phase (when the teeth are joined, the mandible is stationary)

Question 10

What can affect the patient’s chewing cycle?

Answer 10

The type of food (hard food cycle is wider than soft food.)
The patient’s occlusal conditions e.g. denture.

Question 11

You notice that the patient’s old denture has evenly worn out occlusal surfaces.

Discuss

Answer 11

This suggests that the patient’s chewing cycle consists of vertical mandibular movements.

When designing the next denture, you may want to use cuspless fake teeth.

Question 12

Discuss the neuromuscular control developed by a denture wearing patient?

Answer 12

The patient will start using their tongue while biting to control the denture (stabilise it)

Question 13

Discuss the shortened dental arch as a treatment option

Answer 13

What?-You need to have a minimum of 20 teeth

How? We restore teeth for patients with less than 20 (we could add fake teeth to increase the number)

Who? Patients that attend and have good oral hygiene for maintenance of the existing teeth.

Question 14

Why is there reduced biting forces in denture wearers?

Answer 14

The mucosa of the residual ridge carries the biting load in denture wearers.

This is a reduced support area (no PDL)

Question 15

Explain the difference between a removable and partial denture?

Answer 15

A partial denture is a mucosa supported prosthesis. (t for mucosal Tissue)

A removable denture is a tooth supported prosthesis