The impact of oral rehabilitation on quality of life by installing a fixed prosthesis with immediate loading in edentulous mandibles

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed the impact of oral rehabilitation with immediate-loading fixed prostheses on the quality of life of patients with mandibular edentulism. Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted on an outpatient basis. The sample included 14 patients over 18 years of age, treated in the Implantology Specialization programs of the Brazilian Dental Association (in Juiz de Fora, Brazil) and the School of Dentistry, Federal University of Juiz de Fora. Participants were interviewed about identification data, self-perceived general health and oral health, and socioeconomic data. The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was used. After the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test, the OHIP-14 central tendency values were compared using the Wilcoxon paired test with a 5% significance level. Results: The overall mean found for the quality of life questionnaire was 30.14 (before) and 48.93 (after). There was a significant reduction of impact in all areas in the post-surgical period, except for functional limitation. No impact was identified for the dimensions of physical pain and disability after installing implants. Conclusion: Prosthetic rehabilitation and self-perception have high impact on oral health, thus emphasizing the need for care, careful observation of all the factors that may have an influence on infirmities, and not only their signs and symptoms.