Are there differences in the changes in oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) depending on the type (rigidity) of prosthetic treatment?

Abstract

Objective: This prospective pilot study investigated differences in changes in oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) depending on the prosthetic treatment type (rigidity).

Method and materials: Sixty participants seeking prosthetic treatment were included. The following data were collected before (T1) and 4 weeks after completion of prosthetic treatment (T2): OHRQoL (OHIP-G14) and dental status, categorized in terms of rigidity of the denture as fixed dental prosthesis (FDP, maximal rigidity), removable partial denture prosthesis (RPD, medium rigidity), or complete dentures (CDs, minimal rigidity). After prosthetic treatment, there were three groups of 20 participants: group 1, change in dental status to less rigid; group 2, equally rigid; group 3, more rigid restorations. Data were evaluated using nonparametric statistical test methods and power analysis. The minimally important difference (MID) of two OHIP-G14 units was determined to be clinically relevant.

Results: At T1, 20 participants had FDP, 18 RPD, and 22 CD; at T2, 10 had FDP, 37 RPD, and 13 CD. Overall, average OHIP-G14 values improved clinically relevantly and statistically significantly (P < .001) with treatment. OHRQoL improved more in group 3, with a median of 8 (IQR 14.75; P = .002), than in group 2, with 2.5 (IQR 9.5; P = .033), or group 1, with 4.5 (IQR 16.5; P = .116). Applying MID, all groups improved clinically significantly. Compared to groups 1 and 2, group 3 improved clinically more significantly.

Conclusion: OHRQoL improved with prosthetic treatment. A patient-customized treatment regime seems as important as prosthesis type (rigidity).