A prospective study of changes in oral health-related quality of life during immediate function implant procedures for edentulous individuals

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate longitudinal changes in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) attributable to fixed dental prostheses during All-on-4(®) treatment in one or both jaws.

Materials and methods: Ten patients underwent placement of four or six endosteal dental implants on the basis of the All-on-4(®) treatment concept in the edentulous maxilla or both jaws and immediate loading with acrylic interim prostheses. The prostheses were replaced after 3-6 months, and definitive prostheses with titanium framework and reinforced resin facing were fixed after another 5 months or more. The subjects completed the shortened Japanese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-J14) before the surgery (T0), 1 week after the initial (T1) and secondary (T2) interim prostheses were placed, and 3 months after definitive prosthesis placement (T3). Complete data of nine subjects were analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results: The total OHIP-J14 score significantly reduced only at T3 (P < 0.05). "Functional limitation," "physical pain," "physical disability," and "psychological disability" scores significantly decreased at T3, and "psychological discomfort" scores also significantly dropped at T2. "Social disability" and "handicap" scores remained unchanged throughout.

Conclusion: Fixed definitive prostheses with metal framework are more effective than fixed all-acrylic prostheses in improving OHRQoL during All-on-4(®) treatment.

Keywords: All-on-4® treatment concept; Oral Health Impact Profile; endosteal dental implants; fixed complete dental prosthesis; immediate loading; patient-oriented outcomes.