Dentures and their impact on social and sexual activities

Abstract

This study was a randomised controlled trial (RCT). Edentulous subjects were randomly assigned to receive mandibular over-dentures retained by implants (test group) or conventional mandibular dentures (control group). All subjects also received new complete maxillary dentures. Participants completed a social impact questionnaire (SIQ) at baseline and 2 months after treatment; oral health-related quality of life was measured using the oral health impact profile (OHIP). Between- and within-group changes were recorded in impact categories and the correlation between post-treatment OHIP and impact items assessed. In total, 102 edentulous subjects (age range, 35–65 years) were recruited and randomised to the test group (number with implant retained dentures, 54; mean age, 50.8 years) or control group (number with conventional dentures, 48; mean age, 51.2 years). Following treatment, significant effects of the treatment were found on scores of the OHIP and most of the items of the SIQ. Subjects given implant retained dentures had lower impacts on all OHIP scores than people with conventional dentures; the mean score was 34 points lower post-treatment for implant retained dentures, versus 9 points lower for conventional dentures. Treatment had a significant impact on all but three of the social and sexual impact items. Implant-supported mandibular over-dentures provide greater relief from problems associated with denture-wearing in social and sexual activities than conventional dentures.