Change in patients' self-reported quality of life before and after dental implantation

Abstract

Background/Aim: The loss of teeth and its consequences for health, as well as the psychological discomfort it entails, have a negative impact on both self-reported health state and quality of life (QoL). Dental implantation aims to increase patients' health and satisfaction and to improve all aspects of QoL. The purpose of this cross-sectional correlational study was to compare the patients' QoL before and after dental implantation. Material and Methods : The study comprised 62 patients aged between 24 and 77, including 28 (45.16%) women and 34 (54.84%) men, who reported to a private dental clinic in Szczecin, Poland to replace missing teeth with implants. The survey was carried out twice: prior to the treatment, when the decision to use implants had been made, and three months after implantation, during the first check-up. QoL was measured using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and sociodemographic data were collected using a questionnaire of the author. Results: There were statistically significant differences between the assessment of health and QoL before and after implantation treatment. Both the patients' health and comfort of life improved after therapy. Conclusions: Replacement of missing teeth with dental implants brought overall improvement in patients' QoL, social comfort, and general health. Dental implantation should be recommended in the early phase of edentulism, after tooth loss.