SELF-PERCEIVED ESTHETICS, CHEWING FUNCTION AND ORAL HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH NEW REMOVABLE DENTURES
Figure 2a. Mean values and standard deviations of the after-treatment OES summary scores in the CD and the CD-RPD group of patients
Figure 2b. Mean values and standard deviation after treatment CFQ and the after-treatment OHIP summary scores in the CD and the CD-RPD groups of patients aesthetics)( Fig. 1). The OHRQoL was measured using the Croatian version of the OHIP-14-CRO questionnaire. 6 The patients filled in the OHIP-14 questionnaire using a Likert type scale ranging from 0 = no difficulties to 4 = maximum difficulties. The summary scores ranged from 0( minimum) to 56( maximum), the higher score represented more impaired OHRQoL( Fig. 1). The Chewing Function Questionnaire( CFQ) was used to measure patients’ self-perceived chewing function. The CFQ consisted of 10 items( ratings were made on the Likert scale from 0 = no difficulties to 4 = maximum difficulties; summary scores ranged from 0 to 40; higher scores represented more impaired chewing function)( Fig. 1). The patient had to assess their difficulties, or rate their aesthetics for a period covering the last 7 days, as recently recommended. 15 All three questionnaires have been psychometrically tested in previous studies and have demonstrated
10, 17, 19 excellent psychometric properties. The patients filled in the questionnaires twice, first at the baseline, when they came to a dental clinic seeking therapy and the second time at least 2 months after they had received their new removable dentures and all adjustments had been finished. Statistical analysis( SPSS 20 for Windows, IBM) included descriptive statistics, paired t-test( to test the significance of the differences between the baseline and the after-treatment scores), independent t test to compare the two groups( the CD and the CD-RPD group), and the 2 factor ANCOVA with the after-treatment OES, the aftertreatment OHIP 14, or the after-treatment CFQ scores as dependent variables: treatment groups( the CD and the CD-RPD group) and gender as fixed factors, and age as a covariate. P values of 0.05 or less were considered statistically significant.
3. Results
Mean after-treatment summary scores of the OES, the OHIP14 and the CF questionnaire in the CD and the CD-RPD groups are presented in Figure 2 a and b. All patients significantly improved aesthetics, chewing function and OHRQoL compared to the baseline scores( p < 0.01). Significantly higher OES after treatment summary scores, were registered in the CD group than in the CD-RPD group( t = 4.3, df = 124, p < 0.01)( Fig. 2a). Slightly lower CFQ after-treatment summary scores( better chewing function) were registered in the CD-RPD group than in the CD group, but the difference was not statistically significant( t = 1.14, df = 124, p > 0.05)( Fig. 2b). However, slightly lower OHIP14 aftertreatment scores were registered in the CD group than in the CD-RPD group. The difference was also not statistically significant( t = 1.46, df = 124, p > 0.05)( Fig. 2b). Mean differences( deltas) between the baseline and the after-treatment summary scores( score reduction) for the OES, the OHIP14 and the CFQ questionnaires are presented in Figure 3. The CD- RPD patients benefited more from the treatment than the CD patient, although the difference was not statistically significant( p > 0.05). The two factor ANCOVA with the mean aftertreatment OHIP14 summary score as the dependent variable, the type of treatment( CDs or CD-RPDs) and gender as fixed factors and age as a covariate, revealed no significant effect of the type of treatment( F = 0.89; p = 0.35), gender( F = 2.61; p = 0.11) and age( F = 3.25; p = 0.08)( Table 1). The same analysis was done for the dependent variable: the after-treatment CFQ summary score also revealed no significant effect of the type of treatment( F = 1.37; p = 0.24), gender( F = 1.65; p = 0.20), and age( F = 0.26; p = 0.61).
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