Effects of treatment with RPDs on Quality of Life

Methods: 55 patients were randomly assigned to treatment with two types of double crown retained RPDs (27 conus crown retained RPDs and 28 galvanic telescopic crown retained RPDs). One half of the patients were treated by students the other half by resident dentists. The OHRQoL was assessed by means of the German version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-G49). In addition to baseline assessment, OHRQoL was recorded at follow-up examinations 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after insertion of the RPD.

Results: Weighing all items equally the median of the OHIP-G49 sum score added up to 49 prior to prosthetic treatment. Within the study group the OHIP score did not correlate with the number of remaining teeth (Spearman rho = 0.265 ; p= 0.41 ). One week after the placement of the RPD the median declined significantly (p<0.001) from 49 to 25. Further reductions of the OHIP score to 8 points (p<0.001) after 6 months and 3 points after 12 months were significant. Within the observation period of 12 months the type of double crown had no effect on the OHIP-score. However, after 12 months the number of abutment teeth used to retain the RPD had a significant influence on the OHIP-score. Rank correlation analysis (Spearman-rho =-0.375; p=0.05) revealed that a higher number of abutment teeth resulted in significantly lower OHIP scores and consequently in a higher OHRQoL.

Conclusion: In comparison to the initial situation the prosthetic treatment with double crown retained RPDs resulted in a significant improvement of the OHRQoL when a higher number of abutment teeth had a positive effect.