A structural equation model relating oral condition,denture quality,chewing ability,satisfaction, and oral health-related quality of life in complete denture wearers

ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between mandibular ridge form, stability and retention of mandibular complete denture, accuracy of jaw relation recording, patients’ perception of chewing ability, satisfaction with dentures and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in complete denture wearers.MethodsA total of 183 edentulous patients, who visited the Dental Hospital of Tokyo Medical and Dental University for new complete dentures, were recruited. Oral examination was performed. Cawood and Howell's method was used to grade the mandibular ridge form. The stability and retention of the mandibular complete denture were assessed using Kapur method. Accuracy of jaw relation recording was evaluated using a newly developed jaw relation index. Patients’ perception of chewing ability was rated using a food intake questionnaire. Patients’ satisfaction with complete dentures was assessed on a 100-mm visual analogue scale. OHRQoL was measured using the Japanese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile for edentulous subjects. A structural equation model was constructed based on the hypothesis that oral condition and denture quality would be related to chewing ability, satisfaction and OHRQoL.ResultsSignificant relationships were found between mandibular ridge form, stability of mandibular complete denture, accuracy of jaw relation recording, perceived chewing ability, satisfaction and OHRQoL. Various fit indices were within acceptable limits.ConclusionsOral condition and denture quality were related to patients’ perception of chewing ability, satisfaction with dentures and OHRQoL in complete denture wearers.Clinical significanceA favourable oral condition and denture quality are important for successful complete denture therapy.     

Multivariate analyses of patient financial systems and oral health‐related quality of life

Johansson V, Axtelius B, Söderfeldt B, Sampogna F, Paulander J, Sondell K. Multivariate analyses of patient financial systems and oral health‐related quality of life. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2010; 38: 436–444. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – Objectives: Since 1999, the public dental health service (PDHS) in the county of Värmland, Sweden, has two co‐existing patient financial systems, i.e. ways for the patient to pay for dental care services. Alongside the traditional system of fee‐for‐service payment, i.e. paying afterwards for provided services, a new system of contract care is offered. In this system, dental care is covered by a contractual agreement, for which the patient pays an annual fee and receives care covered by the contract without additional costs. The aim of this article was to study whether patient financial system was associated with oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL). Methods: A questionnaire was answered by 1324 randomly selected patients, 52% from contract care and 48% from fee‐for‐service. The questionnaire contained questions about how much one was prepared to pay for dental care, how much one paid for dental care the previous year, OHIP‐14 (measured OHRQoL), dental anxiety, humanism of caregiver, SF‐36 (measured general health), multidimensional health locus of control, sense of coherence (SOC), self‐esteem and demographics. Data on patient financial system, gender and age were obtained from the sampling frame. The material was analysed with a hierarchical block method of multiple regression analysis. Results: When controlling for all other variables, patient financial system was one of the strongest associations with OHRQoL: patients in fee‐for‐service had worse OHRQoL than those in contract care. OHRQoL was also associated with general health, SOC and to some extent also with psychological and economic factors. Of the social variables, only being foreign born was significant: it was associated with worse OHRQoL. Conclusions: Patient financial system was associated with OHRQoL when controlling for confounding factors: patients in contract care had better OHRQoL than those in fee‐for‐service care.     

Masticatory performance and oral health-related quality of life before and after complete denture treatment

Purpose

To clarify the relationship between masticatory performance and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) before and after complete denture treatment.

Oral health–related quality of life and unmet dental needs among women living with HIV

BackgroundOral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) is a multidimensional, perception-based measure of how oral health affects social and physical functioning and self-image. OHRQoL is important for assessing women living with HIV (WLWH) who may have unmet dental needs and experience disparities that impact dental care accessibility.MethodsIn 2016, the authors conducted an assessment of OHRQoL among a national sample of 1,526 WLWH in the Women’s Interagency HIV Study using the Oral Health Impact Profile instrument, which assesses the frequency of 14 oral health impact items. OHRQoL was measured using multivariable linear regression with a negative binomial distribution to assess the association between report of a recent unmet dental need and OHRQoL.Results“Fair or poor” oral health condition was reported by 37.8% (n = 576) of WLWH. Multivariable linear regression showed that unmet dental needs had the strongest positive association with poor OHRQoL (difference in Oral Health Impact Profile mean, 2.675; P < .001) compared with not having unmet needs. The frequency of dental care utilization was not associated with higher OHRQoL. Older age, fair or poor dental condition, smoking, symptoms of anxiety and loneliness, and poor OHRQoL were also associated with worse OHRQoL.ConclusionSelf-perceived impact of oral health on social and physical function and self-image, as measured by OHRQoL, may be an easily assessable but underrecognized aspect of OHRQoL, particularly among women aging with HIV.Practical ImplicationsDentists should implement OHRQoL assessments in their management of the care of patients with HIV to identify those who do have significant oral health impacts.