Comparison of the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Partial Edentulism Patients with or without Utilizing Removable and Fixed Prostheses

Background and purpose: Tooth loss poses a significant and prevalent issue, and various treatment options have been proposed to address this matter, including the utilization of both fixed and removable prostheses. The correlation between the number of teeth remaining and the chosen prosthesis in individuals' oral cavities, as well as its impact on their overall quality of life, is noteworthy. Hence, in this current investigation, we sought to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) experienced by patients who have been fitted with either removable or fixed prostheses. Materials and methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, there were three different cohorts (n= 90) of patients with partial edentulism that were examined. These groups were as follows: group 1, which consisted of patients without any dentures; group 2, which consisted of patients with fixed prosthetics; group 3, which consisted of patients with removable prosthetics (both or only one jaw). The method used for data collection was the OHIP-14 questionnaire, which encompassed various aspects such as biographical information, disease type, age, gender, type of prosthesis, and 14 additional inquiries. Ultimately, the data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: The OHRQoL score in patients with fixed prosthesis exhibited the lowest value (4.93±5.17), whereas in patients without prosthesis, it demonstrated the highest value. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference was observed between the types of prosthesis (P-value <0.001). Additionally, female patients without underlying disease and with upper jaw prosthesis displayed a superior OHRQoL. Age did not show a significant association with the OHRQoL score (P-value=0.600); however, the OHRQoL score increased with a longer duration of prosthesis usage (P-value=0.036). Conclusion: The findings of the current investigation elucidated that individuals with fixed prostheses exhibited the highest level of OHRQoL, whereas those lacking prostheses experienced the lowest OHRQoL.