Impact of Removable Partial Denture on Quality-of-life of Sudanese Adults in Khartoum State.

INTRODUCTION

Tooth loss can affect a patient's quality-of-life (QoL), impacting on aspects, such as nutritional intake, psychological status, self-image, and daily engaging in social interaction. The purpose of this study was to assess the oral health-related QoL (OHRQoL) among adult Sudanese patients wearing removable partial dentures (RPDs) by utilizing oral health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14) to assess patient satisfaction with their dentures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study population included 370 adult patients wearing RPDs. Of these, 99 were males and 271 females with the age range of 35 to above 60 years. Self-reported questionnaires were distributed randomly to be completed by the participants from each health sector after having read a consent letter. Two measures interpreting the OHIP-14 scales (sum and prevalence) were utilized for data collection. The relationship of patients' demographic characteristics, general and oral health status, and denture characteristics with their OHRQoL was investigated. The data were processed and analyzed by means of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

RESULTS

The means of OHIP-14 sum and OHIP-14 prevalence of partial denture wearers were 10.9 + 7.8 and 18.9% respectively. The most problematic aspects of OHIP-14 were functional limitation and psychological disability. On the contrary, the participants had little problem as a handicap and social disability aspects. The self-reported oral health, regular follow-up, denture satisfaction, duration of denture wearing use of the denture while eating, and frequency of denture cleaning positively contribute to oral health-related quality.

CONCLUSION

Loss of teeth and use of RPD significantly affect patients' oral health status and QoL. Patients who are satisfied with their dentures have a better QoL than their unsatisfied counterparts.