A prospective study of changes in oral health-related quality of life during immediate function implant procedures for edentulous individuals

ObjectiveThe aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate longitudinal changes in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) attributable to fixed dental prostheses during All-on-4((R)) treatment in one or both jaws. Materials and methodsTen patients underwent placement of four or six endosteal dental implants on the basis of the All-on-4((R)) treatment concept in the edentulous maxilla or both jaws and immediate loading with acrylic interim prostheses. The prostheses were replaced after 3-6months, and definitive prostheses with titanium framework and reinforced resin facing were fixed after another 5months or more. The subjects completed the shortened Japanese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-J14) before the surgery (T0), 1week after the initial (T1) and secondary (T2) interim prostheses were placed, and 3months after definitive prosthesis placement (T3). Complete data of nine subjects were analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. ResultsThe total OHIP-J14 score significantly reduced only at T3 (P<0.05). Functional limitation, physical pain, physical disability, and psychological disability scores significantly decreased at T3, and psychological discomfort scores also significantly dropped at T2. Social disability and handicap scores remained unchanged throughout. ConclusionFixed definitive prostheses with metal framework are more effective than fixed all-acrylic prostheses in improving OHRQoL during All-on-4((R)) treatment.