ORAL HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS AFTER IMPLANT TREATMENT: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY IN A PRIVATE DENTAL PRACTICE

Abstract

Introduction: Clinicians are currently unable to quantify the psychosocial, functional, and esthetic effects of prosthetic interventions to replace teeth. Understanding the effects of treatment to replace teeth on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is important.
 Aims and Objectives: This study aimed at analysing the improvement of OHRQoL of patients who underwent dental implant treatment using the “functional”, “psychosocial” and “pain and discomfort” categories of the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI).
 Materials and Methods: These patients were assessed for their OHRQoL by answering a GOHAI questionnaire before implant placement and between 3 to 9 months after treatment. Gender, age, tobacco habits and potential preliminary periodontal treatment were also determined at the beginning of the study. In our study, evaluation process of OHRQol was assessed using the GOHAI questionnaire and data were collected during interviews. GOHAI comprised 12 items. For each one a score between 1 and 5 was given.
 Results: Out of 200 subjects, 125 were males and 75 females at a ratio of 1.66 to 1. The mean age was 45±2.9 years. According to the degree of oral treatment needed, the subjects were categorised as “Single Tooth” (n = 95), “Fixed Partial Denture” (n = 85; 2 to 6 teeth replaced) and “Full Prostheses” (n = 20; 10 to 14 replaced teeth). The latter category comprised “full fixed Prostheses” (n = 9) and “Implant Retained Complete Over-denture” (n = 11). The characteristics of this population did not have any statistically significant impact on GOHAIAdd scores before or after treatment. These parameters were also not associated with changes in the OHRQoL of the participants.
 Conclusion: OHRQoL was found to be improved after oral treatment by implants.
 Key Words: Implant, Oral health, Questionnaire Removable Partial Denture, Fixed Partial Denture.