Quality of life assessment in partially or completely edentulous individuals

Ciljevi: Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je procijeniti kvalitetu života i subjektivni osjećaj zdravlja u osoba s djelomičnom ili potpunom bezubošću. Materijali i metode: U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 34 ispitanika, pacijenta koji su došli u ambulantu za stomatološku protetiku Stomatološke poliklinike u Splitu zbog izrade nove potpune proteze. Nakon kliničkog stomatološkog pregleda ispitanici su ispunili anketni upitnik o kvaliteti života (engl. 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, SF-36) koji mjeri subjektivni osjećaj zdravlja kroz osam domena, upitnik za procjenu kvalitete života ovisne o oralnom zdravlju (engl. Oral Health Impact Profile, OHIP-14) te vizualno-analognu ljestvicu (VAS) za procjenu zadovoljstva starom potpunom protezom. Rezultati: Od 34 ispitanika koji su sudjelovali u istraživanju bilo je 26 žena (76.5%) i 8 muškaraca (23.5%), prosječne dobi 70.6±9.4 godina. Potpuno bezubih je bilo 18 ispitanika (52.9%), a 16 (47.1%) djelomično bezubih. Potpunu protezu je ranije koristilo 30 (88.2%) ispitanika, djelomičnu protezu 11 (32.4%), a fiksnoprotetski rad jedan ispitanik (2.9%). Ispitanici koji su ranije koristili potpunu protezu ocijenili su svoje zadovoljstvo protezom s 57.5±32.0 mm na VAS ljestvici. Rezultati subjektivne procjene zdravlja prema SF-36 upitniku pokazali su najlošije rezultate u kategoriji Vitalnost (55.8±16.1 bodova), a najbolje u kategoriji Psihičko zdravlje (89.9±22.7 bodova). Ukupni zbroj bodova OHIP-14 upitnika bio je 17.2±12.5 bodova (od mogućih 56 bodova). Nije bilo statistički značajne razlike između ispitanika s potpunom i djelomičnom bezubošću. Zaključak: Ovo istraživanje pokazalo je kako ispitanici s potpunom ili djelomičnom bezubošću imaju smanjenu kvalitetu života, kao i subjektivni osjećaj zdravlja. Stoga je oralna rehabilitacija uz izradu protetskog nadomjestka nužna za postizanje bolje kvalitete života u takvih osoba.Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess health related quality of life and subjective feeling of health in partially or completely edentulous individuals. Materials and methods: There were 34 participants included in the study, who attended the Department of Prosthodontics in the Dental Clinic Split, Croatia for new complete dentures fabrication. Following the clinical examination, participants completed a quality of life questionnaire, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), measuring subjective feeling of health through eight health domaines, oral health related quality of life questionnaire (OHIP-14) and visual-analogue scale (VAS) to assess patient satisfaction with the previous complete dentures. Results: Out of 34 participants in this study, there were 26 female (76.5%) and 8 male (23.5%), with the mean age 70.6±9.4 years. There were 18 (52.9%) completelly edentulous and 16 (47.1%) partially edentulous participants. Complete denture was previously used by 30 (88.2%) participants, partial denture by 11 (32.4%) and fixed prosthetic restorations by one (2.9%) participant. Participants previously using complete dentures estimated their satisfaction on VAS scale with 57.5±32.0 mm. Results of the health related quality of life assessed by SF-36 questionnaire showed lowest results in the Energy and vitality domaine (55.8±16.1 points), while the highest score was reached in the Mental health domaine (89.9±22.7 points). Total sum of OHIP-14 score was 17.2±12.5 points (out of maximal 56 points), with no statistically significant differences between completelly and partialy edentulous participants. Conclusion: This study showed that completelly or partialy edentulous individuals presented reduced quality of life, as well as subjective feeling of health. Therefore, oral rehabilitation including fabrication of prosthetic restorations is necessary to improve their quality of life