Patients’ Preferences for the Treatment of a Single Missing Tooth in China: A Discrete Choice Experiment

Abstract

Purpose The main treatment options offered to patients to choose from when restoring a single missing tooth include tooth-supported three-unit fixed partial dentures (FPDs) and implant-supported single crowns (ISCs). However, due to the heterogeneity of current studies, it is difficult to objectively compare these two treatment strategies. In this study, a discrete choice experiment (DCE) was used to quantify the preferences of individuals undergoing restoration treatment for single tooth loss. Patients and Methods The DCE questionnaire was disseminated in a “snowball” fashion, with data collected from participants aged 18–60. Five important attributes of treatment were selected: (1) treatment procedure, (2) treatment time, (3) cost, (4) five-year survival rate, and (5) five-year complication rate. A conditional logit model was employed to ascertain the direction of participants’ preferences for specific attribute levels and to derive their willingness to pay (WTP) through the principle of marginal utility. Results 287 participants completed the questionnaire. The results of the questionnaire revealed that the five-year complication rate (42.42%) was the most important attribute, followed by cost (20.43%), five-year survival rate (14.23%), treatment time (13.44%), and treatment procedure (9.49%). Participants were willing to pay RMB$11076.2 (USD$1,772.2) to obtain a 10% extra reduction in the five-year complication rate, and RMB$7434.6 (USD$1,189.5) for a non-invasive treatment. Conclusion In the ranking of the relative importance of key factors affecting single missing tooth restoration, complication rates are most highly valued, suggesting that reducing the complication rate is a key issue to be addressed in prosthodontics. In addition, deriving the ranking of patients’ concerns about key factors can help to improve doctor-patient communication and provide a reference for treatment technology development and medical decision-making.