Patient Reported Outcomes on Different Occlusal Schemes in Complete Denture Wearers

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Prosthodontics
• Oral Rehabilitation

Background:

• Complete dentures are essential for edentulous patients.
• Occlusal schemes influence denture function and patient experience.
• Comparing balanced, lingualized, and monoplane schemes is crucial for optimizing outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient-reported outcomes (satisfaction, quality of life) among balanced, lingualized, and monoplane occlusal schemes in edentulous patients.
• To evaluate the impact of different occlusal schemes on the need for denture adjustments.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial involving 60 edentulous patients receiving new complete dentures.
• Assessment of demographic variables, bone ridge quantity, and patient-reported outcomes (Denture Satisfaction Questionnaire [DSQ], General Oral Health Assessment Index [GOHAI]) over 52 weeks.
• Nonparametric analysis (Brunner-Langer, Kruskal-Wallis) for within-group and between-group comparisons.

Main Results:

• All occlusal schemes led to significant improvements in DSQ and GOHAI scores from denture insertion to 1-year follow-up.
• No significant differences were found in demographic variables or bone ridge classifications among the groups.
• The lingualized occlusal scheme group required significantly fewer denture adjustments compared to balanced and monoplane groups.

Conclusions:

• Occlusal scheme for posterior teeth in complete dentures does not significantly influence patient-reported subjective outcomes.
• The lingualized occlusal scheme demonstrates a potential advantage in reducing the need for post-insertion denture adjustments.