Abstract
To look into the quality of life (QOL) of those who have received dental implants, a questionnaire survey was conducted on a total of 280 male and female patients. The results of the inquiry are as follows:
1. The available recovery rate of the quenstionnaire was 70.4%. In the total number of the valid reply cards, 33.0% were from men and 67.0% from women. The age of the respondents averaged 50.9 and the number of years after implant operation 4.8. Regarding implant sites, the lower jaw 1.6 times as many as the upper jaw. Especially, mandibular molars were predominant. Half of the implant materials were metal.
2. Pain, a feeling of physical disorder, a sense of mental unease, emotional stress of the treatment received, melancholy, and a feeling of uneasiness on the job were not cited as their major complaints. On the contrary, a majority said that they can sleep well, have a good appetite, have no difficulty in masticating, and felt the medical staff are dependable and treatment is satisfactory. The respondents' relationships with other members of the family were found generally quite good; however, many of those who said that they want to revisit the dental clinics for treatment confided that the medical cost is a heavy burden for them. Those who have told their family and friends about dental treatment were relatively few in number.
3. When the QOL of the implant patients were examined in light of three elements, physical, psychological, and social, sensitivity to the social element was less significant than the physical and psychological elements.
4. It was found that the pain in implanted regions and the feeling of physical disorder are associated with a sense of mental unease and melancholy, while appetite and mastication are related directly with sleep and indirectly with anxieties on the job.
As indicated above, the QOL of the patients who received the implants has been fairly good. To maintain or further upgrade the QOL, thorough management of ex-patients and follow-up surveys are considered necessary. The present investigation also suggests that measures be taken to take care of those who are not satisfied with treatment results.
