Method: Sixty-five patients, 30 females, 35 males; mean age 67.0 years; (SD±11), treated by dental students with partial RDPs at the School of Dentistry, University of Copenhagen, from 2008 to 2012 were recalled and re-examined. In the whole group, the mean number of remaining teeth was 15 (SD±5) and the mean number of replaced teeth was 8 (SD±5). Twenty-eight patients had upper partial RDPs only, 20 patients had lower partial RDPs only, 17 patients presented both upper and lower partial RDPs. The OHIP-49 was used before, at baseline (1-2 months after treatment) and 1-4 years after treatment. The amount of oral problems experienced by the patients was calculated based on the answers to the OHIP-questions with a score of 1, 2, 3 or 4. Descriptive statistics was used.
Result: At the follow-up examination 1-4 years after treatment, the most frequent problem reported included “food catching”, “chewing difficulties”, “sore spots”, “ill-fitting dentures”, “painful gums” and “discomfort dentures”. Twenty-five patients had all three OHIP-questionnaires fully completed. Problems with eating and appearance registered before treatment were improved at baseline and after 1-4 years. Problems with dentures registered before treatment was improved at baseline but reoccurred after 1-4 years. A significant improvement (p<0.05) in the total OHIP-49 was registered from before treatment (mean 42, SD±37) to baseline (mean 29, SD±27) as well as from before treatment to 1-4 years after treatment (mean 32, SD±30). There was no significant difference between baseline and 1-4 years follow-up examinations.
Conclusion: Treatment with partial RDPs improved patient-reported problems with eating and appearance, but denture-related problems partly remained and reoccurred 1-4 years after treatment.