A comparison of implant-retained mandibular overdentures and conventional dentures on quality of life in edentulous patients: a randomized, prospective, within-subject controlled clinical trial

Objectives To determine any difference in patient response to implant overdentures compared with conventional complete dentures alone. Materials and methods In a randomized, prospective, controlled study, 122 edentulous patients (Mean age 64; 39 men, 83 women) underwent baseline assessment of denture satisfaction and quality of life using the Oral Health Impact Profile-49 (OHIP-49) and a Denture Satisfaction Questionnaire. All patients were provided with new conventional complete dentures (CCDs) that they wore for 3 months, at which point they were reassessed using the same measures. Patients were randomly assigned either to continue with CCDs (CC group) or to have implant-retained overdentures (IODs) made (CI group). The CC group was assessed after a further 3 months (6 months after receiving CCDs). The CI group was assessed 3 months after receiving IODs. Results Significant improvements in satisfaction and quality of life were found in the patients 3 months after receiving CCDs (P < 0.05). No further improvements were found in the CC group at 6 months on any of the measures. The CI group showed significant additional improvements at 3 months following IODs on the functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, physical disability, social disability, psychological disability and handicap scales of the OHIP and on 10 of the 11 scales of the Denture Satisfaction Questionnaire (P < 0.05, ANOVA). Conclusions The findings show that, controlling for expectancy bias and variability in baseline levels, IODs significantly increase patient satisfaction, dental function and quality of life over and above those achieved with good quality CCDs.