Oral Health-related Quality of Life in Wearers of Mandibular Overdentures

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in wearers of mandibular overdentures retained by one or two implants at 3 and 6 months after the treatment.
Methods: Edentulous patients (n=16) received new bimaxillary complete dentures and filled the Brazilian version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-EDENT) after 30 days of adaptation period. Afterwards, participants were randomly divided in two groups and then underwent to placement of one (Group I) or two (Group II) implants in the anterior mandible. O’rings abutments were installed on the implants and the matrix attachments were connected in the lower dentures four months after the surgery. The OHIP-EDENT questionnaire was filled again at 3 and 6 months after the installation of the overdentures. The difference between the new complete dentures and overdentures retained by one or two implants were analyzed using Friedman test (α=.05). The difference between the treatments (Group I or II) were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test (α=.05).
Results: It was observed a significant improvement (p=.001) in the OHRQoL in Group I (median=6.5 for 3 months and 2.5 for 6 months) and in Group II (median= 4 for 3 months and 2.5 for 6 months) if compared with the treatment with conventional complete dentures (median=10.5 for Group I and 9.5 for Group II). There were no changes (p<.05) in OHRQoL for each group between the third and the sixth month. After compare the groups between them, no difference was found for the periods of 3 (p=.32) and 6 months (p=.64).
Conclusions: Wearers of mandibular overdentures retained by one implant show OHRQoL similar to wearers of overdentures retained by two implants in the periods evaluated. Both treatments improve the OHRQoL of patients if compared to treatment with conventional complete dentures.