Pilot study on the psychologic evaluation of prosthesis incompatibility using the SCL-90-R scale and the CES-D scale

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate and determine psychogenic aspects of prosthesis incompatibility by psychologic tests that define the (psychogenic) prosthesis incompatibility as a psychologic disorder. The patients' complaints with the restorations included taste disorders, odynophagia, pain sensations, and functional and esthetic dissatisfaction.

The study cohort comprised 83 patients with complete dentures fabricated according to a standardized protocol. A dental history questionnaire was used to evaluate whether the patients had adapted to their dentures 6 months after incorporation. Twelve patients with suspected psychogenic prosthesis incompatibility and a group of 24 randomly selected control subjects were evaluated by application of the psychologic tests Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) and the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).

When compared with the control group, patients with suspected psychogenic dental prosthesis incompatibility showed statistically significant differences in the CES-D cumulative values (P = .015) and the SCL-90-R values Global Severity Index (P = .024) and Positive Symptom Distress Index (P = .049).

This was the first documented study to use the SCL-90-R and CES-D scales on patients with suspected psychogenic dental prosthesis incompatibility with nonadaptation 6 months after incorporation. Adaptation problems were ruled out as a possible cause. Using the SCL-90-R and CES-D, it was possible to make a reliable initial diagnosis of the psychosomatic clinical situation regarding psychogenic prosthesis incompatibility. The results have direct implications on socioeconomic and forensic consequences for diagnosis and treatment by a dental clinician.