Oral health-related quality of life after prosthodontic treatment for patients with partial edentulism: A systematic review and meta-analysis

J Prosthet Dent. 2019 Jan;121(1):59-68.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2018.03.003. Epub 2018 Jul 10.

Abstract

Statement of problem: Clinicians are currently unable to quantify the psychosocial, functional, and esthetic effects of prosthetic interventions to replace teeth. Understanding the effects of treatment to replace teeth on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is important for informed consent. A systematic review of the evidence of OHRQoL improvements with prosthodontic tooth replacement and a comparison of outcomes between treatment modalities is therefore indicated.

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the OHRQoL of patients with partial edentulism after different dental prosthetic treatments.

Material and methods: Electronic database and manual searches were conducted to identify cohort studies and clinical trials reporting on the OHRQoL of individuals receiving implant-supported crowns (ISCs), implant-supported fixed dental prostheses (IFDPs), implant-supported removable dental prostheses (IRDPs), tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses (TFDPs), and removable partial dentures (RPDs). Two reviewers independently conducted article selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Random-effects models were used to compare OHRQoL change scores (standardized mean change, 95% confidence intervals).

Results: Of the 2147 identified studies, 2 randomized controlled trials and 21 cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, studies were of low or moderate risk of bias. Pooled mean OHRQoL change ≤9 months was 15.3 for TFDP, 11.9 for RPD, and 14.9 for IFDP. Pooled standardized mean change OHRQoL change >9 months was 13.2 for TFDP and 15.8 for IFDP. Direct comparisons ≤9 months between TFDP against IFDP and RPD against IFDP significantly favored IFDP in both cases.

Conclusions: TFDP and IFDP had short- and long-term positive effects on OHRQoL. RPDs positively affected OHRQoL in the short term. IFDP showed greater short-term improvement in OHRQoL than RPD and TFDP.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Databases, Factual
  • Dental Implants
  • Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported
  • Denture, Partial, Fixed*
  • Denture, Partial, Removable*
  • Esthetics, Dental
  • Humans
  • Mouth, Edentulous / psychology*
  • Mouth, Edentulous / rehabilitation
  • Mouth, Edentulous / therapy*
  • Oral Health*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Dental Implants