Sensitivity to change of oral and general health‐related quality of life during prosthodontic treatment

Abstract

The literature presents conflicting findings on whether health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures have sufficient evaluative properties to assess changes caused by dental interventions. The aim of our study was to compare sensitivity to change in HRQoL and OHRQoL in prosthodontic patients. In this prospective intervention study, a total of 165 consecutively recruited patients completed the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the 49-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP), as self-administered questionnaires, before prosthodontic treatment and 1 month after treatment was finished. Differences in SF-36 and OHIP scores between baseline and follow up were tested for statistical significance using paired t-tests. Effect sizes (Cohen's d) were calculated. Health-related quality of life improved during prosthodontic treatment, indicated by a slight, but statistically significant, increase in the SF-36 physical component (difference: 1.0 points), whereas perceived mental health did not change substantially (difference: −0.5 points). Improvement in OHRQoL (difference in OHIP sum score: −6.7 points) was statistically significant. Although the OHIP effect size (of 0.2) was considered as small, according to guidelines, it was greater than for the SF-36 component scores (physical: 0.1; mental: 0.1). Sensitivity to change in quality of life measures was greater for OHRQoL than for HRQoL, limiting the usefulness of HRQoL as an outcome measure in dentistry.

Oral health‐related quality of life, measured using the five‐item version of the Oral Health Impact Profile, in relation to socio‐economic status: a population survey in Sweden

“…The different OHIP versions have shown significant associations with both clinical and subjective measures of oral health (5,8,9,12). Thus, being edentulous or having few teeth, periodontitis, temporomandibular disorders/pain, and poor chewing ability have all been found to be associated with poor OHRQoL (2,3,5,8,(16)(17)(18)(19). The associations with socio-economic status (SES) have been revealed in other studies (11,14).…”

Associations between tooth loss, prostheses and self‐reported oral health, general health, socioeconomic position and satisfaction with life

“…Some studies have shown that tooth loss has an impact on general health; however, most studies indicate that measures of general health are either not sensitive enough to capture the impact of tooth loss and prosthetic restorations, or the oral status simply does not impact on self‐reported general health . The specific relationship between the location of tooth loss, prosthetic restorations and self‐reported general health has, to our knowledge, not been investigated.…”

Oral health‐related quality of life in patients with non‐metal clasp dentures: a randomised cross‐over trial

“…Thus, our primary null hypothesis was rejected. The OHIP summary score showed a substantial decrease after NMCD treatment, with a strong ES (0Á8) and a large change score (20 points) that were greater than those in previous studies (ES: 0Á3-0Á5, change score: 9-12 points) in the previous studies (17,(21)(22)(23) (Table S1). Furthermore, scores for all OHIP dimensions indicated an improved OHRQoL.…”

“…Table S1 Change in OHIP scores and effect size for treatment with NMCD and RPDs reported in the previous studies (17,(21)(22)(23).…”

“… Figure S1 Illustrations of the conventional metal clasp‐retained removable dentures (MCDs) and non‐metal clasp removable partial dentures (NMCDs) for Kennedy Class III partially edentulous mandible in the present study. Table S1 Change in OHIP scores and effect size for treatment with NMCD and RPDs reported in the previous studies . …”