The quality of complete denture, patient's satisfaction, oral health-related quality of life, and their association

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the association of complete denture quality, patient’s satisfaction, and Oral Health-related Quality of Life (OHRQoL). A total of 126 complete denture wearers was interviewed for the primary outcome, OHRQoL, using Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP) index. Secondary outcomes were patient’s satisfaction and masticatory performance. Denture retention and stability were scored following the conventional and Chulalongkorn University (CU)-modified Kapur criteria. Esthetic-assessment criteria was evaluated from patient’s photographs. It was found that limited eating/chewing was the most common problem, and an ill-fitting denture was a primary cause of any reported problems. Unacceptable denture retention and/or stability associated with lower masticatory performance, eating dissatisfaction, and reported oral impact. CU-modified Kapur criteria revealed higher sensitivity in estimating all patient-based outcomes compared to the conventional criteria. Denture age and esthetic-assessment criteria associated with none of patient-based outcomes. In conclusion, the CU-modified Kapur criteria for complete denture retention and stability evaluation is an alternative tool in estimating masticatory ability and OHRQoL with higher sensitivity. The CU-modified Kapur criteria helps clinician in making decision whether a denture needs refabrication. In addition to professional evaluation, OHRQoL assessment should be used in evaluating a treatment need or outcome.