title: Impact of removable dentures on oral health-related quality of life among elderly adults in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the use of removable dentures can improve oral function and esthetics for elderly people, compared to those who do not wear removable dentures, those wearing removable dentures could have worse oral health related-quality of life (OHRQoL). Additional information is required to assess which factors related to denture wearing influence the OHRQoL of elderly individuals. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between denture wearing and OHRQoL in a sample of elderly individuals in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included 277 elderly people wearing removable dentures (mean age = 76.0 years). Using face-to-face interviews, we collected data on the participants' socio-demographic characteristics, dental care service usage (regular dental checkups, treatment during toothache, dental visits in the last year), and factors related to denture wearing (perceived oral pain, perceived loose denture, perceived oral ulcer, perceived halitosis, perceived dry mouth, and perceived total denture satisfaction scores). OHRQoL was measured using the Taiwanese version of the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI-T). The location and number of remaining natural teeth and the type of denture were also recorded. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed using GOHAI-T scores as the dependent variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the predictors together accounted for 50% of the variance in GOHAI-T scores. Further, education level, number of natural teeth, denture status, perceived loose denture, perceived oral ulcer, and perceived total denture satisfaction scores had statistically significant influences on OHRQoL. When compared with other variables, factors related to denture wearing, especially perceived total denture satisfaction scores, had the greatest impact on GOHAI-T scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of the factors analyzed in this study, denture satisfaction was the strongest predictor of OHRQoL. This suggests that denture satisfaction is useful for assessing the effect of denture treatment on the OHRQoL of elderly individuals wearing removable dentures.
authors.forename: Yea-Yin
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Huey-Er
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yi-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shou-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Wen-Chen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Je-Kang
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Shun-Te
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Division of Family Dentistry, Department of Dentistry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. taihen.n4545@msa.hinet.net.
authors.forename: Kun-Jung
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003781:Denture Retention / Q000523:psychology; D003824:Denture, Complete / Q000523:psychology*; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006209:Halitosis / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D009909:Oral Health; D019226:Oral Ulcer / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012923:Social Class; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013624:Taiwan; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000523:psychology