Oral health‑related quality of life among older patients treated with complete prostheses

. Prosthetic rehabilitation of edentulous patients exerts an indisputable influence on their sense of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This study examines which particular OHRQoL aspects pose the biggest challenge in terms of improvement upon the conclusion of a complete prosthesis adaptation period. Basic research design. Patients were examined at the Gerostomatology Clinic, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, in 2012–2013. Participants. The research involved 76 edentulous people over 60 years of age, of whom 66 returned for post-treatment check-ups after three months. Interventions. Oral health-related quality of life was examined, using the General Oral Health Assessment Index, prior to prosthetic restoration and following a three-month adaptation period. Results. Within the scope of an OHRQoL assessment, the examined patients scored the fewest points with regard to problems caused by mastication (Q2), unease at the appearance of their dentition (Q9), and discomfort experienced while eating (Q5). Following the three-month adaptation period, the highest percentage increase was observed in terms of the patient’s satisfaction with the looks of their dentition (Q7), while more than 10% of the patients experienced the negative impact of eating-related problems on their daily lives (Q1, Q2, Q5). Conclusions. Prosthetic treatment of edentulous patients using conventional complete prostheses significantly improves patients’ oral health-related quality of life. Discomfort caused by problems with mastication can be observed among 10% of the examined patients.