Theories Explaining Coping and Adapting to Tooth-Loss: A Systematic Review

Objectives: Tooth loss can generate serious psychological disturbance; however, the extent of the disturbance and how it might be managed effectively has little theoretical foundation. The aim of this research is to identify psychosocial theories that might reasonably explain how people cope with tooth loss.
Methods: The search was conducted electronically in MEDLINE/EMBASE (OVID), PsychINFO, and CINHAL, and manually in the references of selected literature, for papers published between January 1, 1950, and November 30, 2015 relating to psychosocial theories of coping with loss of limbs, breasts or teeth. Papers were included when two investigators agreed that they explained the constructs and themes within each theory, and specific constructs were selected if they seemed likely to influence how people cope with tooth loss.
Results: The search found 1475 citations from which 235 texts were analyzed fully: 123 relating to tooth loss; 48 to limb amputations; and 64 to mastectomies. In all, 75 theories based largely on concepts of disability and social cognitive behavior were identified - 27 in the literature on tooth loss, 28 on limb amputations, and 20 on mastectomies. Analysis of the constructs supporting the 75 theories found substantial overlap of behavioral and emotional themes, such as cognitive appraisal, reactive strategies, and various personal and social resources that enable or impede adaptation to physical loss of body parts
Conclusions: There is much overlap of theoretical constructs and themes in the literature on coping with loss of limbs, breasts and teeth, which suggests that enabling strategies for coping with limb loss and mastectomy could be applied to help people cope effectively with loss of teeth.