Patients' expectations of and satisfaction with implant-supported fixed partial dentures and single crowns

Patient variables and expectations may influence patients' evaluations of treatment outcomes, which are essential to the success of therapy. The main objective of this study was to compare patients' expectations before and satisfaction after receiving implant-supported fixed partial dentures (FPDs) and single crowns. A secondary objective was to evaluate other variables that may affect patient satisfaction.

The sample comprised 52 volunteers (mean age: 51.2 ± 10.6 years) who had received implant-supported FPDs (n = 25) and single crowns (n = 27). A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess their expectations before and satisfaction after therapy with regard to mastication, esthetics, comfort, and phonetics. Patients also completed a questionnaire concerning other variables involved in the treatment and their evaluation of their clinician's conduct.

Patient expectations before treatment were higher than satisfaction after treatment, but this difference was significant only for esthetics in patients who had received implant-supported FPDs. Negative correlations were found between satisfaction and age and between number of absent teeth and number of post delivery adjustments, but only for implant-supported FPDs. A positive relationship was found for the majority of questions concerning patients' evaluations of clinician conduct and VAS scores.

Patients' evaluation of clinician conduct appears to be an important factor that influences their expectations before and satisfaction after receiving implant-supported FPDs and single crowns.