Abstract: PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of 4 kinds of prosthodontic materials on masticatory and gingival function. METHODS: A total of 167 patients with dental defects who underwent prosthodontic treatment from October 2019 to January 2022 were collected. They were randomly divided into 4 groups with 41 cases in the pure titanium group, 40 cases in the cobalt-chromium alloy group, 43 cases in the nickel-chromium alloy group and 43 cases in the zirconium dioxide group. The curative effect and satisfaction degree after 6 months of treatment in 4 groups were recorded and compared. The masticatory function (chewing efficiency, bite force), gingival function[plaque index(PLI), gingival index(GI) and sulcus bleeding index(SBI)], gingival crevicular fluid inflammation-related indicators[tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alkaline phosphatase (alkaline phosphatase, ALP)] before and after treatment were measured and compared in 4 groups. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 20.0 software package. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in curative effect in 4 groups(P>0.05). Before and after treatment, there was no significant difference in mastication efficiency and bite force in 4 groups(P>0.05). Before treatment, there was no significant difference in PLI, GI, SBI, gingival crevicular fluid weight, TNF-α, IL-6, AST and ALP in gingival crevicular fluid in 4 groups(P>0.05). Compared with before treatment, PLI, GI and SBI in 4 groups were decreased after treatment (P<0.05), and the decrease was in the order of cobalt-chromium alloy group≈nickel-chromium alloy group<pure titanium group<zirconia dioxide group. Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the weight of gingival crevicular fluid, TNF-α, IL-6, AST and ALP in gingival crevicular fluid in 4 groups(P>0.05). The crevicular fluid weight, TNF-α, IL-6, AST and ALP in gingival crevicular fluid were significantly increased(P<0.05), and the increase was in the order of zirconia group<pure titanium group<cobalt-chromium alloy group≈nickel-chromium alloy group. There was no significant difference in restoration integrity and color satisfaction in 4 groups(P>0.05), but there was significant difference in marginal fitness and sensitivity satisfaction in 4 groups(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pure titanium, cobalt-chromium alloy, nickel-chromium alloy and zirconium dioxide can be used for the treatment of dentition defects, and they all can obtain satisfactory chewing function. In addition, zirconium dioxide restoration has the effect of improving gingival function and inflammation-related indicators of gingival crevicular fluid with a broader application prospect.

Key words: Tooth defect, Prosthodontic materials, Masticatory function, Gingival function