Association between the treatment choice of implant-supported fixed partial dentures and oral health-related quality of life in patients with a shortened dental arch: A preliminary observational study

• Published in: Journal of dental sciences Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 1667 - 1672
• Main Authors: Yokoi, Takumi, Kusumoto, Yuriko, Abe, Yuka, Watanabe, Hiroyuki, Sanda, Minoru, Hara, Maoko, Matsumoto, Takashi, Baba, Kazuyoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.07.2024; Association for Dental Sciences of the Republic of China; Elsevier
• Subjects: Implant-supported fixed partial dentures; Masticatory function; Oral health-related quality of life; Original; Patient-reported outcome measures; Shortened dental arches; Shortened dental arches; Masticatory function; Implant-supported fixed partial dentures; Patient-reported outcome measures; Oral health-related quality of life
• ISSN: 1991-7902; 2213-8862
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jds.2023.11.013

In cases of missing posterior teeth, treatment modalities based on the shortened dental arch (SDA) concept may be a viable alternative. However, the association between oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and patients’ treatment decisions remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between OHRQoL and the decision to be treated with implant-supported fixed partial dentures (IFPDs) or take a wait-and-see approach in patients with an SDA missing a single second molar and to clarify the impact of IFPD treatment on the OHRQoL. The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) questionnaire was administered twice (pre- and post-treatment) and once to 41 patients with a unilateral SDA missing a single second molar who chose IFPD treatment (IFPD group, n = 22) and the wait-and-see approach (no treatment group, n = 19), respectively. Logistic regression analysis was performed with IFPD treatment choice as the objective variable and the four OHIP dimension scores, age, and sex as covariates. The pre- and post-treatment values of the OHIP summary and four-dimension scores were compared using a paired t-test. The IFPD treatment choice was significantly associated with sex (male), higher Oral Function dimension scores, and lower Psychosocial Impact dimension scores (all P < 0.05). The OHIP summary and four-dimension scores were significantly lower following IFPD treatment (all P < 0.05). IFPD treatment for a single missing second molar may be clinically beneficial for improving the OHRQoL of patients with an SDA who experience a decline in masticatory function.