Speaking Space, Chewing Rotational Denture Movement, OHRQoL, and Patient Expectations for Single-Implant Mandibular...

To compare the speaking space, perceived rotational movement during chewing, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of elderly people rehabilitated with new conventional complete dentures (CDs) and single-implant mandibular overdentures (SIMOs) using a paired design. Patient expectations for SIMO use were also evaluated.

The participants were 22 elderly users of unsatisfactory CDs. They received new sets of conventional CDs, and assessment was performed after 2 months of use. Speaking space was recorded with a kinesiograph while participants read a list of words. Participants were asked two questions about perceived posterior rotational denture movement during chewing. The Dental Impact on Daily Living (DIDL) questionnaire was used to examine OHRQoL, and a visual analog scale was used to quantify participants' SIMO expectations. Subsequently, the mandibular CDs were converted to SIMOs, and the assessment was repeated after 2 months of use. Speaking space and OHRQoL data were submitted to ANOVA and Student t test, and perceived mandibular movement and expectation data were examined using likelihood-ratio chi-square test.

The speaking space and perceived rotational movement did not differ between CD and SIMO use. General performance and eating restriction DIDL scores increased after SIMO insertion. Participants' SIMO expectations regarding speaking, cleaning, esthetics, and general aspects were met.

Relative to CD use, SIMO use did not change the speaking space or perceived rotational movement when chewing among elderly patients. It improved OHRQoL via enhancement of two DIDL dimensions and met most elderly patients' expectations.