Oral health impact profile and prosthetic condition in edentulous patients rehabilitated with implant-supported overdentures and fixed prostheses

Abstract

The complexity of rehabilitation for totally edentulous patients makes it necessary to devise treatment strategies that meet the patients' expectations in terms of function, esthetic, psychological, and social aspects. The aim of this study was to i) compare the satisfaction of edentulous patients who had been rehabilitated with implant-supported overdentures and fixed prostheses in the mandible, and ii) assess the technical aspects of the prostheses in relation to patient satisfaction. This was a cross-sectional study involving 30 patients, 15 of whom had been rehabilitated with implant-supported overdentures and 15 who had been treated with fixed prostheses. The patients answered the OHIP-EDENT questionnaire, validated for the Brazilian Portuguese language, to assess satisfaction. Also, patients underwent clinical examination to assess the condition of their prostheses. Statistical analysis using the Mann-Whitney U-test revealed no significant differences in satisfaction between patients with overdentures and those with fixed prostheses. Likewise, Fisher's exact test demonstrated no significant differences in patient satisfaction concerning the condition of the prostheses as evaluated by the prosthodontist. It was concluded that both types of prostheses were perceived as being equally satisfactory by edentulous patients, and that the condition of the prostheses did not influence individual satisfaction in terms of rehabilitation. (J Oral Sci 51, 535-543, 2009)