Daniel R Reissmann1, Norbert Enkling2, Rim Moazzin3, Marius Haueter3, Andreas Worni4, Martin Schimmel5. 1. Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Center for Dental and Oral Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: d.reissmann@uke.de. 2. Department of Prosthodontics, Preclinical Education and Dental Material Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Department of Reconstructive Dentistry and Gerodontology, Division of Gerodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. 3. Department of Reconstructive Dentistry and Gerodontology, Division of Gerodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. 4. Private practice Bellevue, Bern, Switzerland. 5. Department of Reconstructive Dentistry and Gerodontology, Division of Gerodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Division of Gerodontology and Removable Prosthodontics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess long-term changes in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) over a period of 5 years in patients treated with narrow diameter implants (NDI) in the mandible for support of an overdenture. METHODS: In this prospective clinical study, a consecutive sample of 20 edentulous patients who had worn sufficient complete dentures for at least 12 weeks was provided with four immediately loaded one-piece titanium NDIs in the mandible. The German 49-item version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) was applied to assess OHRQoL at baseline and all follow-ups (4 and 8 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months, and 3 and 5 years after treatment was finished). RESULTS: Before treatment, OHRQoL was substantially impaired indicated by high OHIP summary score (39.9 points). Four weeks after treatment, a substantial treatment-induced drop of OHRQoL impairment was observed (21.8 OHIP points), and at all follow-ups, OHIP scores were lower than at baseline (15.9-26.5 OHIP points; ANOVA: p<.001). Based on mixed-effect linear regression analyses, the treatment-induced effect on OHRQoL improvement over the entire study period was statistically significant for the OHIP summary scores as well as for all four OHIP domains: Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact (all: p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that four immediately loaded NDIs for the support of conventional complete dentures in edentulous patients with substantially impaired OHRQoL may lead to a long-lasting treatment-induced improvement in OHRQoL. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The provision of four NDI in the edentulous mandible is a promising treatment option for patients with substantial OHRQoL impairment and a positive attitude towards implant treatment. Furthermore, patients can be informed that improvements in OHRQoL are expected to last for at least 5 years.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess long-term changes in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) over a period of 5 years in patients treated with narrow diameter implants (NDI) in the mandible for support of an overdenture. METHODS: In this prospective clinical study, a consecutive sample of 20 edentulouspatients who had worn sufficient complete dentures for at least 12 weeks was provided with four immediately loaded one-piece titanium NDIs in the mandible. The German 49-item version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) was applied to assess OHRQoL at baseline and all follow-ups (4 and 8 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months, and 3 and 5 years after treatment was finished). RESULTS: Before treatment, OHRQoL was substantially impaired indicated by high OHIP summary score (39.9 points). Four weeks after treatment, a substantial treatment-induced drop of OHRQoL impairment was observed (21.8 OHIP points), and at all follow-ups, OHIP scores were lower than at baseline (15.9-26.5 OHIP points; ANOVA: p<.001). Based on mixed-effect linear regression analyses, the treatment-induced effect on OHRQoL improvement over the entire study period was statistically significant for the OHIP summary scores as well as for all four OHIP domains: Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact (all: p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that four immediately loaded NDIs for the support of conventional complete dentures in edentulouspatients with substantially impaired OHRQoL may lead to a long-lasting treatment-induced improvement in OHRQoL. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The provision of four NDI in the edentulous mandible is a promising treatment option for patients with substantial OHRQoL impairment and a positive attitude towards implant treatment. Furthermore, patients can be informed that improvements in OHRQoL are expected to last for at least 5 years.