title: Quality of Life of Patients Treated With Implant-Supported Mandibular Overdentures Evaluated With the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14): a Survey of 58 Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life of patients treated with implant-supported mandibular overdentures and to compare the attachment systems used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Altogether 112 patients treated with implant-supported mandibular overdentures in 1985 - 2004 were invited to the follow-up; 58 of them attended and replied to the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) -questionnaire. There were 48 overdentures with a bar connection and 10 with a ball connection, the total number of implants installed and still in use was 197. The mean follow-up time was 13.7 years. The associations between the OHIP-14 variables and the patient's age, gender as well as the number of implants supporting the overdenture and the type of attachment used were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that patients with implant-supported mandibular overdentures were satisfied with their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Older patients were more satisfied than younger ones in both genders. Neither the implant connection type nor the number of supporting implants seemed to have a significant influence on the OHRQoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Especially older patients with mandibular implant-supported overdentures were satisfied with their oral health-related quality of life. Attachment type or the number of supporting implants did not have a significant influence on the oral health-related quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Stomatognathic Physiology, Institute of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Department, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu Finland.
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuoppala
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Stomatognathic Physiology, Institute of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Department, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu Finland.
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Näpänkangas
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Stomatognathic Physiology, Institute of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Department, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu Finland.
authors.forename: Aune
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raustia
keywords: dental implant; implant-supported denture; mandible.; oral health; outcome studies; quality of life