Patients' expectations, satisfaction, and quality of life with immediate loading protocol.
OBJECTIVE
To examine patients' expectations, the level of satisfaction, and the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) with regard to the implants' immediate loading protocol (ILP) in edentate individuals.


METHODS
This pilot trial used a pre-post design to assess patient-centered outcomes in 18 edentate individuals (mean age 62.4 ± 7.7 years) who have received a 2-implant (unsplinted) mandibular overdenture through an ILP. Visual analog scales, the McGill denture satisfaction questionnaire, and the oral health impact profile (OHIP-20) questionnaire were used to evaluate patients' expectations, satisfaction, and OHRQoL at baseline, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 4 months after surgery. Personality trait and socio-demographic information were obtained using the revised NEO personality inventory and a self-administered questionnaire, respectively. Non-parametric methods and Brunner-Langer approach were used to analyze the data.


RESULTS
The participants had a wide range of expectations regarding the ILP. Expectations included short-term positive impact on aesthetics (83.3%) and social life (55.7%), as well as negative effects on comfort (5.6%), the ability to chew (11.1%), and the ability to clean the lower denture (11.1%). The ILP satisfied 94.4% of the participants, regardless of socio-demographic and personality profiles. There was a statistically significant improvement in overall satisfaction, comfort, perceived aesthetics, stability of the overdenture, and ability to chew from baseline to 2-week, 1-, and 4-month follow-up (P < 0.001). There was 100% agreement among patients on recommending this procedure to others. There was a statistically significant decrease in the total OHIP scores and all its domains (P < 0.001) from baseline to 2 weeks. These differences remained statistically significant at 4-month follow-up. The ILP improved patients' OHRQoL, regardless of the implant loss, the socio-demographic characteristics, and personality traits.


CONCLUSIONS
The ILP of two unsplinted implants with a mandibular overdenture significantly improved satisfaction and short-term OHRQoL, and appears to meet expectations in edentulous elders. There was 100% agreement among patients on recommending this procedure to others.
Département de Dentisterie de Restauration, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Melanie
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9958-1567
M
Menassa
Département de Dentisterie de Restauration, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Pierre
P
de Grandmont
Département de Dentisterie de Restauration, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Nicholas
N
Audy
Département de Dentisterie de Restauration, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Robert
R
Durand
Département de Dentisterie de Restauration, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Pierre
P
Rompré
Département de Dentisterie de Restauration, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
Elham
E
Emami
D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D003826:Denture, Complete, Lower; D003828:Denture, Overlay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057893:Immediate Dental Implant Loading; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
clinical trial; dental implant; immediate loading; mandibular overdenture; patients’ expectations; quality of life; satisfaction