Can dentures improve the quality of life of those who have experienced considerable tooth loss?

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify variations in the impact of oral health on quality of life (OHQOL) among UK residents in relation to self-reported number of teeth possessed and denture status. In addition, t o determine whether recourse to a removable prosthesis for those who claime d that they had experienced considerable tooth loss (having <20 teeth) was associated with quality of life. Methods. The vehicle fur this was the Office for National Statistics Omnibu s survey in Great Britain. A random probability sample of 2667 addresses wa s selected in a multistage sampling process. Participants were interviewed about their oral health status. The impact of oral health on quality of lif e was measured utilising the OHQoL-UK(W)(C) measure. Results: The response rate was 68%. Variations in OHQoL-UK(W)(C) scores wer e apparent in relation to self-reported number of teeth possessed (P < 0.00 1) and denture status (P < 0.001). Moreover, disparities in OHQOL were appa rent among those who experienced considerable tooth loss who didn't have re course to a denture (P <0.001). In regression analysis, those who claimed t hat they had <20 natural teeth but had no recourse to a denture were less t han half as likely to enjoy enhanced oral health related quality of life co mpared to others in the population (OR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.30, 0.71), controll ing for socio-demographic factors. Conclusions: Experience of considerable tooth loss without recourse to a re movable dental prosthesis is an important predictor of oral health related quality of life, as captured by OHQoL-UK(W)(C), and associated with reduced quality of life. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.