Patient satisfaction with implant-retained mandibular overdentures: a retrospective study

The aim of this study was evaluation of the effect of age, gender, and past prosthetic history (duration of edentulism, number of complete dentures before implant treatment, and number of adjustment appointments) on patients' ratings of satisfaction (comfort, hygiene, retention, appearance, speech, mastication, and overall satisfaction).

In this retrospective study, 55 patients who were treated with mandibular overdentures retained by splinted implants from 1998 to 2004 and met the inclusion criteria of the study were selected. Each patient was asked to fill out a questionnaire to evaluate his/her general satisfaction with the implant prostheses and other aspects of satisfaction such as comfort, aesthetic, function, and hygiene. Data were analyzed using a marginal model and the generalized estimating equations methodology to assess the relationship between the scores and the patients' demographic and past prosthetic histories. Significance was accepted at 5% and expressed as p values and odds ratio (OR).

Gender had significant correlation with comfort (p < .0001). Years of being edentulous prior to implant/prosthetic treatment had direct effects on the general satisfaction and satisfaction of comfort (p < .01). One extra denture used before implant treatment resulted in less comfort (p < .01) and poorer function (p < .001). Elders were more satisfied with aesthetic (OR = 0.96) and comfort (OR = 2.96). Number of adjustment appointments had a positive correlation with comfort (p < .001) and a negative correlation with satisfaction of aesthetic (p < .001).

The results of this study demonstrated that satisfaction was correlated with age, gender, and past prosthetic history in the patients rehabilitated with the implant-supported overdentures.