Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHQoL) in implant-supported rehabilitations: a double-blind longitudinal prospective single-center observational cohort study

Abstract

Abstract Objectives. To evaluate Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) perceived by the patient before and after implant-prosthetic rehabilitation, to determine the physical and psychological impact that dental implants and related prosthetic rehabilitations could have in partial or edentulous patients. Finally, it was evaluated if demographic and clinical variables could influence the patient's perceived OHRQoL. Materials and Methods. A double-blind longitudinal prospective single-center observational cohort study was conducted with patients requiring implant-prosthetic rehabilitation to evaluate OHRQoL before (T0), during (T1), and after treatment (T2) with implant-prosthetic rehabilitations. The three scores obtained at T0, T1, and T2, respectively, were compared with the variables patient's sex, age, implants placed in the aesthetic zone versus nonaesthetic zone, number of implants used in the rehabilitation, site of rehabilitation, type of definitive prosthetic rehabilitation, and type of recipient's bone. Results. A total of 100 patients rehabilitated with 427 implants were enrolled. Statistically significant data emerged regarding the total OHRQoL score, its 7 domains, and VAS score in the 3 times considered and in relation to gender, age, aesthetics, implants number, dental arch, type of prosthesis, and type of surgery. Conclusions. Implant-prosthetic rehabilitations significantly improve OHRQoL and aesthetics in edentulous or partially edentulous patients. The change in OHRQoL is accompanied by a marked improvement in the patient's aesthetic perception of the new smile similar in all intervals of the study. Clinical Relevance. OHRQoL could provide the basis for any dental health care program and should be considered an important element in the overall oral health program.