The disutility of tooth loss: a comparison of patient and professional values

The objectives of this study are to study how tooth loss affects the utility of the dentition from both patient and professional perspectives and to compare patient and professional utility values.

One hundred six patients and 118 dentists were asked to read 19 different written scenarios accompanied by visual images and models, describing mouths with missing teeth, and to indicate on a visual analog scale the value of that oral health state.

Both groups of participants attached the greatest utility to missing incisor teeth and disutility of tooth loss decreased as the tooth in question became nearer the back of the mouth. When dentist and patient utility values for the loss of different tooth types were compared, using independent t-tests, differences were statistically significant for only one tooth loss scenario - the loss of upper canines.

The patient and professional groups valued tooth loss scenarios in a similar way. This finding is contrary to the majority of previous studies comparing patient and professional utilities.