The impact of tooth loss in a denture wearing population: an assessment using the Oral Health Impact Profile

Objectives To assess the impact of tooth toss in complete denture wearers u sing the Oral Wealth Impact Profile (OHIP), and to compare the validity of 49 and 14 item versions of OHIP in a denture wearing population. Design In this cross sectional study, data were collected at Newcastle Dental Hospita l, UK. Two groups were involved: (1) subjects edentulous in one or both jaw s seeking dental implants to retain their intra-oral prostheses (n=48); (2) an edentulous control group of the same age and Sender distribution reques ting conventional, complete dentures (n=35). All participants in the study completed a 49 item OHIP (OHIP-49) and a validated denture satisfaction que stionnaire prior to active treatment. OHIP data were computed using the wei ghted standardised and simple count methods. Non-parametric statistical tes ts were used to compare the responses of implant and control subjects. Resu lts Both groups were dissatisfied with their conventional dentures and had relatively similar levels of dissatisfaction. There were statistically sign ificant differences between the groups for all seven OHIP-49 sub-scale scor es. Differences between OHIP-14 sub-scale scores were also significant, wit h presence of teeth influencing the impact on psychological discomfort. Con clusion Subjects in the implant group were significantly more impaired, dis abled and handicapped by tooth loss than subjects seeking conventional dent ures. The results suggested that OHIP-49 and OHIP-14 had a similar ability to discriminate between the groups. This indicates that OHIP-14 may be a us eful aid in a clinical setting.