Total Oral Health Impact Profile-14 Research Articles

Posterior two-unit cantilevered zirconia resin-bonded fixed partial dentures: A 3-year prospective single-arm clinical trial

ObjectivesTo evaluate the longevity of cantilevered zirconia-based resin-bonded fixed partial dentures (RBFPDs) in replacing missing posterior teeth, as well as the quality of life and patient satisfaction experienced by those receiving zirconia RBFPDs. MethodsA prospective single-arm uncontrolled clinical trial was conducted to replace one or more missing premolars or molars with a span of 5 to 8 mm using cantilevered zirconia RBFPDs. Thirty-six participants with 40 prostheses were recruited and underwent a 3-year clinical evaluation. The retainer designs included a minimum thickness of 0.8 mm, a minimum of 200° circumferential wraparound with an occlusal bar, and a connector dimension of 3 × 3 mm. Patient-reported outcomes, including patient satisfaction and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP), were assessed. ResultsThe average age of participants was 45.8 years, and 72.5 % were women. The success rate of the posterior zirconia RBFPDs was 76.2 %, with an estimated mean success duration of 46.1 months. The survival rate was 88.1 %, with an estimated mean survival duration of 49.4 months. Participants were highly satisfied with the treatment, achieving an average satisfaction score of 80.8 ± 11.9. Participants' total OHIP scores decreased from 52.3 to 39.6 after 3 years, indicating a significant improvement in oral health-related quality of life (P = 0.009). ConclusionsAfter 3 years, a moderately high survival rate and favourable patient-reported outcomes of posterior cantilevered zirconia RBFPDs were achieved. Therefore, it can be recommended as a conservative treatment option to replace missing posterior teeth, provided that retainer design considerations are taken into account. Clinical significanceCantilevered zirconia RBFPDs for posterior teeth can serve as a conservative treatment option that is both aesthetically pleasing and biocompatible. It offers a more cost-effective alternative compared to dental implants, which are often prohibitively expensive for the majority of patients. This approach has the potential to greatly improve patient-reported outcomes.

Comparison of pain intensity and impacts on oral health-related quality of life between orthodontic patients treated with clear aligners and fixed appliances: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThis study aimed to compare the pain intensity and impacts on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) between orthodontic patients treated with clear aligners (CAs) and fixed appliances (FAs).MethodsA systematic search was conducted up to December 2022 using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Embase. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective non-randomized controlled trials (non-RCTs) comparing pain intensity or OHRQoL between patients treated with CAs and FAs were included. The risk of bias (RoB) of individual studies was evaluated using the Cochrane RoB tool 2.0 and ROBINS-I tool for RCTs and non-RCTs, respectively. Further, meta-analyses were separately conducted for each included study using the total oral health impact profile (OHIP)-14 and visual analog scale (VAS) scores to evaluate OHRQoL and pain intensity, respectively.ResultsOverall, 12 studies (5 RCTs and 7 non-RCTs) were included in the study. Subgroup analyses conducted according to the total OHIP-14 scores revealed that patients treated with CAs had higher OHRQoL at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months of the treatment. Meanwhile, subgroup analyses conducted according to the VAS scores revealed that pain levels were lower in the CA group only at 3 and 4 days of the treatment.ConclusionsPatients treated with clear aligners had higher OHRQoL than those treated with fixed appliances during orthodontic treatment. However, OHRQoL appeared to be similar between the two groups at the end of the treatment. Moreover, patients treated with clear aligners experienced lesser pain than those treated with fixed appliances on the third and fourth day after the initial treatment. The difference in pain intensity between the two treatment modalities was not noted at other time points.

Comparison of the Quality of Life Among the Immediate Loading Implant Overdentures Using the Single and the Double Implants: An Original Study.

In edentulous individuals, single implant-retained mandibular overdentures are an effective substitute for double implant-retained overdentures. In this current research, the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was assessed for the immediate loading overdenture using the implants. The comparisons are drawn between the single and double implants. Forty subjects received single and double implants for the placement of the mandibular overdentures. Within a week days of implant insertion, they were loaded with overdentures. Using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire, the OHRQoL was measured before treatment, one month following treatment, and 12 months thereafter. In both the single implant and double implant groups, participants' mean OHIP-14 scores decreased statistically significantly for the different timelines. For the single implant group, the baseline total mean OHIP-14 score was 14.33, and for double implants, it was 19.15. Following therapy, it decreased to 8.55 in the single implant group and 9.48 for the double implant group at one month, and at 12 months, it further decreased to 3.25 in the single implant group while it was 5.15 in the double implant group. Single and double implants increase the QoL for older subjects who are edentulous at the 1-month and 1-year recall points. When two implants are used by older individuals, the single implant might offer an equivalent quality of life.

Assessment of quality of life in patients treated for orbital fractures

PurposeThis study aimed to assess the quality of life (QOL), before and after surgery, of patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation for orbital fractures. Study designA prospective study. Participants and settingThe self-report outcome measures of 50 patients treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiamusi University from January 2016 to June 2019 were prospectively collected. Main measuresThe quality of life was assessed using four patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): the 15D questionnaire, Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Both descriptive and comparative data analyses were calculated. ResultsZygomaticomaxillary complex fractures were the most encountered (40.3%). The total OHIP-14 scores before and after treatment were 1.72 and 1.68, respectively. Vision, breathing, sleeping, eating, usual activities, discomfort and symptoms, and vitality showed minimal changes in the 15D questionnaire. The HADS scores were ranged from 0 to 7, indicating no anxiety or depression. The comparison of SF-36 scores after 3 months and after ≥6 months of treatment revealed no significant difference. ConclusionsPatients’ QOL was minimally impacted by orbital fractures and their treatments. The severity of the negative impact can be minimized if appropriate management strategies are taken.

Meta-analysis of outcomes related to the quality of life after orthodontic-surgical treatment.

Orthognathic surgery causes functional and aesthetic changes, which could affect patients' quality of life (QOL). The current analysis assessed the impact of orthodontic-surgical treatment on the parameters affecting the QOL using different scoring systems. The criteria for inclusion were studies written in various languages that compared the effects of the intervention on patients' QOL before surgery and at various periods after surgery (3 weeks to several months), which resulted in including 19 studies into this meta-analysis. The outcomes of these studies underwent random-effect modeling to calculate the mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of the impact of different surgical techniques on clinical parameters, and publication bias was analyzed with Begg's test. According to the total score of the Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ), surgery significantly affected patients' QOL after 2 months or less (p = 0.049), up to 6 months (p < 0.001), and when comparing 2 months or less with up to 6 months (2-6 months) (p < 0.001). In addition, the total Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) score showed a significant difference in the QOL after 6 months (p = 0.003) and up to 12 months (p = 0.002) after surgery. Therefore, orthodontic-surgical treatment significantly improves patients' QOL after surgery compared to before surgery.

Subjective and objective evaluation of masticatory function in patients with bimaxillary implant-supported prostheses.

People perform poorly in masticatory function tests despite well-functioning prostheses. However, it is unclear whether there is an agreement between subjective and objective measures of mastication. To investigate the association between subjective and objective measures of masticatory function in patients with bimaxillary implant-supported prostheses. An experimental group (n= 25, age=70.6± 7.5 years, eight women) with bimaxillary implant-supported fixed prostheses and a control group (n= 25, age=69.0± 5.3, 13 women) with natural dentition were recruited. The participants in the experimental group were included if they had been using the prosthesis for at least a year and had no obvious complaints with their prostheses. The control group was people with natural dentition and without any prostheses or complaints related to the masticatory system. The masticatory function was evaluated objectively with food comminution and mixing ability tests, and subjectively with jaw function limitation scale (JLFS) and oral health impact profile (OHIP). The experimental group performed poorly in both objective tests (p < .001). However, there was no significant differences between the two groups in total JFLS (p= .114) and OHIP (p= .312) scores. Though, there were certain positive correlations between the food comminution test and JFLS subdomains in the control group, and a positive correlation between food comminution test and specific subdomains of OHIP in the experimental group indicating poor correlation between the subjective and objective measures. Although patients with implant prostheses show poor masticatory performance, there is no agreement in the objective and subjective measures of mastication.

Oral health–related quality of life of conventional removable partial dentures, unilateral nonmetal clasp dentures, and shortened dental arch with 2- or 3-tooth unilateral distal extension tooth loss in the mandible: A randomized, crossover, clinical trial

Statement of problemConventional removable partial dentures with metal clasps are still a common option for patients with distal-extension tooth loss. However, unilateral nonmetal clasp dentures fabricated by using a thermoplastic denture base resin are increasingly being used. Furthermore, the shortened dental arch concept remains controversial, in spite of being advocated for many years. Nevertheless, these treatment options remain controversial, particularly in patients with the loss of a few distal teeth unilaterally. PurposeThe purpose of this randomized, crossover, clinical trial was to investigate the oral health–related quality of life of participants who requested a new dental prosthesis (unilateral nonmetal clasp dentures or conventional removable partial dentures) at a private practice. Material and methodsA 3-period, randomized, crossover design was used in a within-subject, controlled, clinical trial. Twenty-four participants (mean age 59.0 years [7 men: 62.6 {45–85} years; 17 women: 57.5 {24–75} years]) were enrolled. All experimental procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of Nagasaki University Hospital (#15022313) and registered in the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number registry (ISRCTN49105064). All participants were fully dentate in the maxilla and had unilateral distal-extension loss of 2 or 3 teeth in the mandible. Participants were allocated to 1 of 6 groups and treated with prescribed options in accordance with their allocated sequences and used a dental prosthesis or nothing for 2-week periods. At the end of each intervention, the participants were asked to answer the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire. Differences in Oral Health Impact Profile scores among groups were estimated with a mixed-effects model (α=.05). ResultsTotal Oral Health Impact Profile scores were higher for unilateral nonmetal clasp dentures (P=.002) and shortened dental arch (P=.049) than for conventional removable partial dentures, with medium and small effects. The unilateral nonmetal clasp dentures had a similar effect compared with shortened dental arch (P>.05). unilateral nonmetal clasp dentures (P=.011) and shortened dental arch (P=.005) demonstrated medium effects in the oral function dimension compared with conventional removable partial dentures. Unilateral nonmetal clasp dentures exhibited large and medium effects in the orofacial appearance dimension compared with conventional removable partial dentures (P=.001) and shortened dental arch (P=.006). In the orofacial pain dimension, shortened dental arch showed effects similar to those of conventional removable partial dentures and unilateral nonmetal clasp dentures (P>.05), and no significant differences were observed in the psychosocial impact dimension (P>.05), but the unilateral nonmetal clasp denture score was lower than the conventional removable partial denture score, with a small effect. Men had significantly lower total Oral Health Impact Profile scores for shortened dental arch than women (P=.033). ConclusionsUnilateral nonmetal clasp dentures and shortened dental arch were better than conventional removable partial dentures for the oral health–related quality of life of individuals with unilateral distal-extension tooth loss in the mandible, and sex had a significant effect on removable prosthetic planning.

Temporomandibular disorder symptoms in young adults: Three-dimensional impact on oral health-related quality of life.

The impact of temporomandibular disorders on functional, pain, and psychosocial aspect of patients' quality of life needed to be assessed. This study examined the three-dimensional impact of pain-related and/or intra-articular Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms and ascertained the inter-relationships between the functional, pain, and psychosocial aspects of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Young adults were enlisted from a local university and TMD symptoms were assessed with the Diagnostic Criteria for TMDs Symptom Questionnaire (DC/TMD-SQ). Participants were stratified into those with no (NT), pain-related (PT), intra-articular (IT), and mixed (MT) TMD symptoms. OHRQoL was examined using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), and dimensional effects (oral function [OF], orofacial pain [OP], and psychosocial impact [PI]) were established subsequently. Data were evaluated with Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (α=.05). The mean age of the participants (n=1205) was 7 ± 1.3 years (71.8% women). While 42.2% reported no TMD symptoms, 22.3%, 16.9%, and 18.5% had PT, IT, and MT accordingly. The MT, PT, and IT groups presented higher total OHIP-14 and dimension scores than the NT group (p < .01). Scores were also significantly different between the MT and IT groups except for OF. For all TMD groups, the ranking of dimensional impact was OP > PI > OF, and associations between the OP and PI dimensions were the strongest (correlation coefficient [rs ]=.57-.76). Young adults with PT and/or IT symptoms have poorer OHRQoL, especially in the OP and PI dimensions, which were moderate to strongly correlated. The use of the three dental Patient-reported Outcome (dPRO) dimensions could provide construct equivalency among OHRQoL measures.

Oral health-related quality of life and dental caries in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a cross-sectional observational study.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic, and inflammatory joint disease with oral complications. This research aimed to compare the oral health-related quality of life and decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index in rheumatoid arthritis patients over 18 years with healthy individuals. In this study, 45 rheumatoid arthritis cases were assigned to the experimental group, and 45 healthy individuals were assigned to the control group. After completing biography forms, the participants filled out two questionnaires. These questionnaires included the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) and the Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Next, their teeth were clinically examined to check for caries. Finally, the data were analyzed statistically. RA and control groups were similar in gender, marital status, age, occupation, and level of education. However, a significant difference was observed between the two groups concerning DMFT (P<0.001) and total OHIP-14 score (P<0.001). Moreover, no significant difference was observed between the groups concerning the total GOHAI score (P=0.526). The oral health-related quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis patients was lower than that in the general population, with the rate of dental caries being higher in these patients.

Temporomandibular Eklem Bozukluğu Olan Hastaların Psikolojik Durumu ve Ağız Sağlığı ile İlişkili Yaşam Kalitesi: Kesitsel Bir Klinik Çalışma

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the association of psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, and depression with the quality of life in patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Material and Methods: This cross-sectional clinical study was carried out on 375 patients with temporomandibular joint disorder in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic of Afyonkarahisar University of Health Sciences Faculty of Dentistry. While the stress level of the participants was evaluated with the Perceived Stress Scale-14, the levels of anxiety and depression were evaluated using the Beck Anxiety and Beck Depression Scales. Participants' quality of life was evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). SPSS for Windows 21.0 program was used for statistical analyses. Results were evaluated in 95% confidence interval, at p<0.05 and p<0.001 significance levels. Results: The OHIP-14 scale mean score of the participants was 17.42. In this study, the highest scores were observed in the OHIP-14 sub-dimensions of 'physical pain (3.97±2.22)' and 'psychological disturbance (3.02±2.09)'. Both the total OHIP-14 score and the OHIP-14 sub-dimension scores increased significantly as the levels of stress, anxiety and depression increased (p<0.05). Conclusion: These study findings revealed that stress, anxiety, and depression level were positively and strongly correlated with quality of life in patients with TMD. Therefore, it should be taken into consideration in the psychosocial parameters in the treatment of the disease and improving the quality of life.

A Cross-Sectional Comparative Analysis of Smoking and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life

Introduction: Tobacco use is a major public health concern globally, and its usage has various harmful effects on both general and oral health. Thus, assessment of the oral health-related quality of life (QOL) is necessary among smokers to improve their oral health. The aim of this study was to assess the oral health-related QOL among smokers and nonsmokers. Methodology: A cross-sectional comparative research was conducted. A total of 520 participants, of which 260 were smokers and 260 were nonsmokers, were included in the study. To acquire data related to sociodemographic parameters and smoking status, the World Health Organization QOL-Brief version assessment tool was used, and to review the association between oral health-related QOL, the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) was used. Results: When comparing smokers and nonsmokers' OHIP, the mean rank of every OHIP-14 question was higher in smokers with a significant P = 0.001, except for “satisfaction of life,” where the P value was not significant (P = 0.347). The distribution of total OHIP-14 scores as per sociodemographic variable showed that a higher mean rank of OHIP-14 was found in unmarried, nonearning, and noneducated participants as compared to married, employed, and literate participants. However, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Oral health-related QOL among smokers is poor as compared to nonsmokers.

Impact of stage-grade of periodontitis and self-reported symptoms on oral health-related quality of life.

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of stage-grade of periodontitis and self-reported signs and symptoms on oral health-related quality of life. The diagnosis of periodontitis was based on the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions. The Turkish version of Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) was used to assess oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and the participants were requested to state their symptoms associated with periodontal diseases. One hundred and sixty-six patients were included in the study with a mean age of 46.54±9.24years. The participants with Stage IV and Grade C periodontitis had the highest total OHIP-14 scores (median 20.00 [min.-max, 3.00-35.00] and median 18.50 (min.-max, 0.00-36.00]; respectively). The OHIP-14 scores (mean±SD) were significantly associated with the symptoms of bleeding gums (13.64±9.39), sore gums (18.00±10.47), swollen gums (17.42±10.91), bad breath (15.82±9.44), loose teeth (20.00±8.66) and drifting teeth (24.56±8.46). This study demonstrates a significant association between OHRQoL and periodontitis. Stage-grade of periodontitis and its symptoms were associated with poor quality of life.

Evaluation of the efficiency of different treatment modalities in individuals with painful temporomandibular joint disc displacement with reduction: a randomised controlled clinical trial

The aim of the study was to investigate and compare short and long-term effects of occlusal splints (OS), ultrasound (US), and high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) in patients with painful temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc displacement with reduction (DDWR). This prospective, randomised, single-blinded, controlled clinical study was conducted on patients with DDWR at a university oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic. A total of 140 patients were allocated randomly to four groups (OS, US, HILT, and control), with 35 patients in each. Patients were evaluated for pain, range of motion of the jaw, disability, and quality of life. A total of 132 patients completed the study. In all treatment groups (OS, US, and HILT), a significant improvement was observed in terms of pain, function, disability, and quality of life, at both weeks four and 12 compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Improvements in VAS pain and maximum mouth opening were not significantly different between the treatment groups. However, compared with the OS group, there was a significant improvement in the HILT and US groups in terms of total Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and Jaw Functional Limitation Scale-20 (JFLS-20) scores at week four, but no difference between the groups at week 12. The results of this study show that OS, US, and HILT are effective treatments for pain and functional jaw movements in patients with DDWR. HILT, a new method, can be an alternative treatment in cases of TMD.

Health-related quality of life among oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients: An exploratory study.

To comprehensively explore the effect of several sociodemographic-, patient- and tumour-related factors on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients. Patients diagnosed with oral and oropharyngeal cancers were included in the present cross-sectional study. Information pertaining to various sociodemographic-, patient- and tumour-related factors was recorded. HRQoL was assessed using standard 12-item Short Form Health Survey version 2 (SF12V2), and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was assessed by Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP). A total of 108 patients participated in the present study. Results revealed that nodal metastasis, histological differentiation and pain were significant predictors of OHRQoL, while site, size, stage, histological differentiation and pain were significant predictors of HRQoL. Pain was the single most significant negative determinant of HRQoL that was associated with worst total OHIP (B=2.01, β=0.45, p<.0001), physical (B=-0.88, β=-0.21, p=.017) and mental (B=-1.00, β=-0.22, p=.016) component summary scores. Number of sociodemographic-, patient- and tumour-related factors emerged as significant predictors of HRQoL and OHRQoL. Study results might help in formulating targeted treatment plan, optimising patient care and follow-up.

Impact of tooth loss position on oral health-related quality of life in adults treated in the community

Background:Tooth loss is known to have negative effects on both functional and psychological oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), but the impact of the position of the tooth loss (i.e. anterior or posterior) on the different psychosocial dimensions of OHRQoL has yet to be examined. Here, we examined how the position of lost teeth impacts the different dimensions of OHRQoL.Methods:This was a cross-sectional epidemiological study of adults aged 18 years and older attending routine examinations at primary care dental centers in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Demographic information was collected, and OHRQoL was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) (Arabic form). Differences in total and subdomain OHIP-14 scores between individuals without tooth loss and those with ≥1 anterior or posterior missing teeth were assessed using Student's t-test, and analysis of covariance was used to assess the association between the presence and absence of missing teeth in each compartment and total and subdomain OHIP-14 scores after controlling for age, gender, and income.Results:The overall prevalence of tooth loss was 76%. In multivariate analysis controlling for age, gender, and income as covariates, anterior missing teeth were significantly associated with higher OHIP-14 total, physical pain, physical disability, psychological disability, and social disability scores, accounting for 6%–12% of the score variance. However, posterior missing teeth were only associated with total OHIP-14 and functional limitations domain scores, accounting for 6% and 7% of the variance, respectively.Conclusions:Here, we show for the first time the impact of the location of missing teeth on different OHRQoL dimensions. Anterior tooth loss has a wide-ranging impact on both physical and psychosocial functioning compared to posterior tooth loss, suggesting that anterior tooth restoration should be prioritized when treatment planning. The position of lost teeth must be considered in addition to the number of losses when examining the impact of tooth loss and its treatment on OHRQoL.

Oral health-related quality of life in X-linked hypophosphataemia and osteogenesis imperfecta.

X‐linked hypophosphataemia (XLH) and osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) are rare congenital disorders characterised by skeletal dysplasia. The two disorders may include dental anomalies potentially affecting individual well‐being. The aims of study were (a) to assess the oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) in Danish adults with XLH or OI, and (b) to compare the results of the groups. A cross‐sectional study including 35 adults with XLH, 56 adults with OI type I and 17 adults with OI types III‐IV was conducted. The OHRQoL was assessed by the 49‐item version of the questionnaire Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP). Summed domain scores (seven) were compared between XLH and OI groups. Prevalence of severe impact on OHRQoL (scores 3‐4) was compared between groups. The median scores in XLH group exceeded the medians in OI (P < .05) in the domains functional limitation (XLH:6.5; OI:4.0), pain (XLH:9.5; OI:5.0), psychological discomfort (XLH:5.5; OI:2.0), psychological disability (XLH:2.0; OI:0.0), handicap (XLH:2.0; OI:0.0) and total OHIP (XLH:35.0; OI:14.0). Differences in domains physical disability (XLH: 4.0; OI: 1.0) and social disability (XLH: 0.0; OI: 0.0) were not significant. Prevalence of severe impact on OHRQoL in the XLH group significantly exceeded the level in OI group in the domains functional limitation (XLH: 59%; OI: 35%), psychological discomfort (XLH: 38%; OI: 20%) and physical disability (XLH: 32%; OI: 13%). In conclusion, adults with XLH experience a higher negative impact on their OHRQoL than adults with OI. Only to a minor degree, individuals with OI types III‐IV experience a higher impact on OHRQoL than individuals with OI type I.

Impact of prolotherapy in temporomandibular joint disorder: a quality of life assessment

Chronic pain and functional impairment associated with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (TMD) considerably reduce oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). In the present study we have assessed the influence of prolotherapy in patients with TMD by the subjective measurement of QoL using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). Twenty-five patients diagnosed with TMD (mean (range) age 38 (18 – 70) years) were included. They had all undergone dextrose prolotherapy to the TMJ at regular time intervals (four times at intervals of two weeks) using the method suggested by Hemwall-Hackett. They were asked to answer the OHIP-14 questionnaire before and two years after prolotherapy. Seven domains of OHRQoL were rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (never) to 4 (very often). Domain scores and total OHIP-14 scores were compared using inferential statistics (chi squared and Wilcoxon signed rank tests). Prolotherapy was effective over time, as all the domains’ mean scores decreased considerably after treatment. The total mean score before prolotherapy was 21.20, which was extensively reduced to 13.08 after prolotherapy (p=0.001). There was statistically significant improvement in all domains, including functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, physical disability, psychological disability, social disability, and handicap (p≤0.005 in all cases). We concluded that prolotherapy has a promising role in the improvement of OHRQoL of patients with TMD, and its beneficial effects persist at least two years after treatment.

Pain and Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life in Orthodontic Patients During Initial Therapy with Conventional, Low-Friction, and Lingual Brackets and Aligners (Invisalign): A Prospective Clinical Study.

The aim of this study was to compare pain and its relationship with the oral quality of life of patients with different types of orthodontic appliances: conventional and conventional low-friction brackets, lingual brackets, and aligners. A prospective clinical study was carried out with a sample size of 120 patients (54 men, 66 women) divided into 4 groups of 30 patients each. The modified McGill questionnaire was used to measure pain at 4, 8, and 24 h and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 days after the start of treatment, and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire was used to measure the oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in the first month of treatment. The maximum peak of pain was obtained between 24 and 48 h of treatment. It was found that patients in the lingual orthodontic group described lower levels of pain at all times analyzed, and their scores in the total OHIP-14 indicated less impact on their oral quality of life (1.3 ± 1.2, p < 0.01) compared with the other groups analyzed. There was little difference with the aligners group (Invisalign) (1.7 ± 1.9, p < 0.01). The technique used influences the pain and quality of life of patients at the start of orthodontic treatment.

Is there a relationship between general and oral health-related quality of life in partially edentulous patients before and after implant treatment? A quasi-experimental study.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) and general health-related quality of life (GHRQoL) in partially edentulous patients before and after implant placement. After obtaining informed consent, using convenient sampling method, 102 participants (64 female and 38 male participants with an age range of 18-81years) were included in the study. Participants were required to fill EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire before implant surgery and three months after prosthetic placement. Data were not normally distributed, so non-parametric tests were used for data analysis. Data analysis was carried out on 93 participants. After implant treatment, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and EQ-5D score significantly increased by 0.05 and 0.06 units, respectively (p<.001 and p=.004, respectively). Also, the total OHIP-14 score significantly decreased from 15.89 to 6.18 after implant treatment (p<.001). Results indicated an increase in general and oral health-related quality of life after implant treatment. According to this study, there was a positive weak relationship between GHRQoL and OHRQoL before and after implant treatment.

Comparison of the quality of life of patients with mandibular third molars and mild pericoronitis treated by extraction or by a periodontal approach

We have evaluated and compared the outcomes after conservatively treated and surgically managed third molars in patients with mild pericoronitis at the first, third, and sixth postoperative months, and we rated patients' quality of life (QoL) using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) index. Of the 128 patients who were originally assessed as eligible we studied 100 patients who fulfilled the protocol, being diagnosed with mild pericoronitis that affected the third molar teeth and who were followed up for six months. Fifty were treated by the periodontal approach and 50 by extraction of third molars. Their oral health-related QoL was assessed using the OHIP-14 index on a personal assessment question form and then repeated at the first, third, and sixth months. The data were analysed using the Mann Whitney, Friedman's, and Wilcoxon's test, as appropriate. There was a significant difference between the total OHIP-14 scores at different time points (p<0.0001). In both groups the three postoperative total OHIP-14 scores were significantly lower than the baseline score, and we noted a further decrease in OHIP-14 scores in the surgical treatment group. Periodontal treatment of mandibular third molar teeth may effectively reduce (but does not eliminate) symptoms, whereas tooth extraction seems to be more effective at the long term.