Does Neuroticism Influence Oral Health-Related QOL in Patients with Removable Partial Dentures?

Area of Science:

• Oral health
• Psychology
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Neuroticism can influence patient perception of oral health.
• Understanding this link is crucial for effective prosthetic treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between neuroticism and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) before and after prosthetic treatment.
• To assess treatment efficacy in improving OHRQoL, particularly in relation to neuroticism.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study of 63 patients receiving removable partial dentures (RPDs).
• Assessed OHRQoL using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-J) and neuroticism using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI).
• Statistical analyses included Spearman's correlation, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Higher neuroticism scores correlated with poorer OHRQoL before treatment (r=0.41, P=0.001).
• This association disappeared after prosthetic treatment (r=0.07, P=0.566).
• Neuroticism and baseline OHRQoL significantly impacted treatment efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Prosthetic rehabilitation with RPDs significantly improves OHRQoL in patients with high neuroticism.
• Oral rehabilitation can lead to improved patient satisfaction, even in individuals prone to higher neuroticism.