Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Prosthodontics
Summary
The oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in prosthodontics encompasses the ways in which tooth loss and its rehabilitation affect daily function, comfort, self-esteem and social participation. Beyond the restoration of occlusal contacts, modern prosthodontic concepts such as the shortened dental arch (SDA), removable partial dentures (RPDs), implant-supported restorations and bone graft procedures are evaluated for their capacity to sustain nutrition, speech, mastication and psychological well-being. Patient-reported outcome measures, notably the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP), enable quantification of changes across domains of functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort and social disability. By integrating these multidimensional assessments into clinical trials and epidemiological surveys, practitioners can tailor interventions that balance clinical efficacy, patient preference and resource allocation. This patient-centred approach has global significance, guiding cost-effective care pathways and informing policy on minimal functional dentition requirements to optimise long-term maintenance and quality of life.
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Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Prosthodontics publication trend
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Technical terms
Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL): Multi-dimensional assessment of how oral conditions affect daily activities, comfort and social well-being.
Shortened dental arch (SDA): Prosthodontic concept preserving anterior teeth and premolars without replacing molars to maintain essential occlusal function.
Removable partial denture (RPD): Detachable prosthesis replacing one or more missing teeth, designed for patient removal and reinsertion.
Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14): A 14-item questionnaire measuring oral health influences on physical, psychological and social domains.
Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (OIDP): An index quantifying the frequency and severity of oral impacts on routine activities.
Posterior occluding unit: A pair of opposing posterior teeth in functional contact during mastication.
References
- Impact of shortened dental arch therapy on nutritional status and treatment costs in older adults: A systematic review. Journal of Dentistry (2023).
- Measures of oral health-related quality of life in patients with bone graft and implant prosthetic rehabilitation at the anterior of mandible/maxilla among young and middle-aged adults: a retrospective pilot study. International Journal of Implant Dentistry (2023).
- Is reduced dentition with and without dental prosthesis associated with oral health-related quality of life? A cross-sectional study. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes (2019).
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