Assessing the Psychological and Emotional Impact of Prosthodontic Rehabilitation: A Comprehensive Quantitative and Qualitative Investigation in Adults

Abstract

Background Edentulism poses significant challenges to oral health and overall well-being often necessitating prosthodontic rehabilitation. While the functional and aesthetic outcomes of these interventions are well documented their specific impact on patients psychological and emotional well-being remains underexplored.Objectives To evaluate the psychological and emotional impact of prosthodontic rehabilitation on patients self-esteem and quality of life. By employing a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies the study seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted dimensions associated with different prosthodontic modalities. Methods A sample of 226 adult patients undergoing prosthodontic rehabilitation stratified based on the type of prosthodontic intervention fixed vs. removable prostheses was recruited. Quantitative assessments included the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale Oral Health Impact Profile OHIP and SF-36 questionnaire. Clinical examinations and patient-reported outcomes were utilized for prosthodontic assessment. Structured interviews were conducted to qualitatively explore participants emotional experiences. Thematic analysis was employed to identify recurring themes and patterns.Results Preliminary findings indicate a statistically significant difference in self-esteem scores between the fixed 28.5plusmn3.2 and removable 26.8plusmn4.1 prosthesis groups P lt0.05. Quality of life assessments including OHIP fixed 15.2plusmn5.6 removable 18.7plusmn6.3 and SF-36 demonstrated notable variations favoring the fixed prosthesis group P lt0.01. Prosthodontic outcomes such as success rates fixed 92.0 removable 85.0 and patient satisfaction fixed 8.9plusmn1.2 removable 7.5plusmn1.8 also favor fixed prostheses P lt0.05. Qualitative analysis reveals themes of positive self-perception improved social interactions and challenges in adaptation. Conclusion This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the psychological and emotional impact of prosthodontic rehabilitation shedding light on the subjective experiences of individuals undergoing different interventions. The findings hold implications for enhancing patient-centered care in prosthodontics.