Impact of a removable prosthesis on chewing ability, quality of life, and patient satisfaction

This study aimed to investigate the effects of removable prostheses on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), the effects of removable prostheses on chewing ability and the effects of prosthesis type (Removable partial denture RPD versus complete denture CD) and sociodemographic factors on both chewing ability and OHRQoL. Data from 90 participants were collected using a questionnaire. Chewing ability and OHRQoL were assessed before and after treatment through questionnaires. A two-tailed α of 0.05 and 95% confidence intervals were applied to identify statistically significant results in this survey. Differences between the RPD and CD treatment groups in terms of demographic variables (gender, age, income, education level, smoking status, medical history, and social connections) and previous denture experience were analysed using the Mann‒Whitney U test. Participants with RPD or CD demonstrated significant improvements in chewing ability and OHRQoL post-treatment (p < 0.05), except for females in the RPD group, who showed no significant changes. Compared with the CD group, the RPD group had significantly better chewing ability both before (p < 0.001) and after (p = 0.027) treatment. The RPD group also reported better outcomes in many aspects, including less jaw pain, greater comfort while eating, and improved denture stability (p < 0.05). Stepwise regression revealed that higher income and smoking were associated with better pre-treatment outcomes, whereas having multiple dentures and smoking predicted worse post-treatment chewing scores. Notably, higher post-treatment chewing scores were associated with improved OHRQoL. Both the RPD and CD groups reported improved chewing ability and OHRQoL, with RPD resulting in superior functional outcomes. Sociodemographic factors such as income, sex, age, and smoking habits influenced the results both before and after treatment. These findings highlight the importance of individualised patient assessment and support the clinical value of RPDs in partially edentulous patients.