title: Qualitative studies of patients' perceptions of loss of teeth, the edentulous state and prosthetic rehabilitation: a systematic review with meta-synthesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies addressing patients' perceptions of loss of teeth, edentulism and oral rehabilitation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Qualitative studies can complement quantitative studies by achieving deep understanding of patients' subjective experiences of losing teeth and coping with edentulism. They can also explore the perception that the benefits of prosthetic rehabilitation extend far beyond primary clinical treatment goals of restoration of oral function.
  
  
  METHODS
  The major data bases were searched extensively for relevant qualitative and quantitative studies, followed by manual searching of the reference lists of included publications. Two authors independently read all abstracts. Relevant papers were retrieved in full-text and included or excluded according to a specially designed protocol. The included articles were then appraised and rated for quality: high, moderate or low. Articles of low quality were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The database search yielded 36 abstracts of qualitative studies; manual search disclosed one further article. All were read in full-text by two independent authors: 28 were excluded. Of the remaining nine, two (assessed as of low quality) were excluded for further analysis. Meta-synthesis, based on seven studies, disclosed two major themes: loss of quality-of-life associated with losing teeth and restored quality-of-life after oral rehabilitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this relatively new field of research, there are few published papers. Nevertheless, the studies to date show that loss of teeth is associated not only with compromised oral function, but also loss of social status and diminished self-esteem. Oral rehabilitation has broad positive implications, restoring quality of life and self-worth.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Dental Medicine, Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nordenram
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gynther
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Helgesson
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hultin
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jemt
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lekholm
authors.forename: Krister
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nilner
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Norlund
authors.forename: Madeleine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rohlin
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sunnegårdh-Grönberg
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tranæus
mesh_terms: D017266:Dental Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000523:psychology*; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000523:psychology*