Quality of life of patients treated with implant‐supported overdentures‐ a survey of 29 patients

Abstract

Background : Millions of people around the world are toothless. Edentulism has an impact on the individual ' s personal and social life. With the increase of life expectancy, the number of total edentulous people also increases. Total removable dentures are rehabilitations associated with a discomfort and social and personal problems. The development of osseointegrated dental implants allowed patients to have trust and Comfort with removable dentures.Aim/Hypothesis : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life of patients treated with implant-supported overdentures and the success rate of the implants used, in a dental unit center (UMD CCL -SSCGD), in Lisbon, Portugal.Materials and Methods : From a total of 49 patients (165 implants) treated with removable dentures supported by dental implants (BTI Biotechnology Institute -Spain) from 2016 to 2018, 29 patients were selected. All patients answered two OHIP-Edent Portuguese version questionnaires (one on the pre-implant and one after implant placement), the surgeries were all performed by the same oral surgeon and rehabilitated by the same Dentist with removable implant-supported prostheses, by six or two implants through the Locator system. The total number of implants was 127. The associations between the OHIP-Edent variables and the patient ' s age, gender, associated pathology and the number of implants supporting the overdenture, as well as the survival rate of the implants were evaluated.Results : A total of 127 implants were placed in 29 patients. The average number of implants per patient is 4.3. 27.6% of patients were rehabilitated with bimaxillary prostheses, 27,6% with maxillary prosthesis and 44,8% with mandibular prosthesis. 6 implants failed (4,72%) -3 implants failed because fibrointegration and the others 3 implants failed because of a postoperative infection in a 70 years older polymedicated patient with diabetic, hypertension and allergy to penicillin. Comparing the results of the two questionnaires (before and after treatment) patients treated with implanted-supported removable denture showed a significant statistical increase in their quality of life. Conclusion and Clinical Implications: Implant overdentures is a predictable treatment and a good option for edentulous patients to whom a fixed rehabilitation treatment is not na option and do not support traditional removable prostheses.