RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE AND SCORING OF ORAL HEALTH IMPACT PROFILE VERSIONS.

BACKGROUND: OHIP's original seven-domain structure does not fit empirical data, but a psychometrically sound and clinically more plausible structure with the four OHRQoL dimensions Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact has emerged. Consequently, use and scoring of available OHIP versions need to be revisited. AIM: We assessed how well the overall construct OHRQoL and its four dimensions were measured with several OHIP versions (20, 19, 14, and 5 items) to derive recommendations which instruments should be used and how to score them. METHODS: Data came from the "Dimensions of OHRQoL Project" and used the project's learning sample (5,173 prosthodontic patients and general population subjects with 49-item OHIP data). We computed correlations among OHIP versions' summary scores. Correlations between OHRQoL dimensions, on one hand, and OHIP versions' domain scores or OHIP-5's items, on the other hand, were also computed. OHIP use and scoring recommendations were derived for psychometrically solid but also practical OHRQoL assessment. RESULTS: Summary scores of 5-, 14-, 19- and 49-item versions correlated highly (r = 0.91-0.98), suggesting similar OHRQoL construct measurement across versions. The OHRQoL dimensions Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact were best measured by the OHIP domain scores for Physical Disability, Physical Pain, Psychological Discomfort, and Handicap, respectively. CONCLUSION: Recommendations were derived which OHIP should be preferably used and how OHIP versions should be scored to capture the overall construct and the dimensions of OHRQoL. Psychometrically solid and practical OHRQoL assessment in all settings across all oral health conditions can be achieved with the 5-item OHIP.

The reliability of computerized condylar path angle assessment.

Recording the track of the mandibular hinge axis and consequently ascertaining the posterior determinants is one of the key requirements for accurately simulating individual oral conditions in the (virtual) articulator. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of computerized condylar path inclination angle (CPIA) measures and to assess whether the reliability depends on the mandibular dentition. Sagittal and transverse CPIA were measured using computerized axiography (Cadiax Compact 2) at two separate sessions in prosthodontic patients (mean age +/- SD: 64.3 +/- 10.3 years; female: 45%) who were classified into three dentition categories (fully dentate: N = 19, partially dentate: N = 27 and edentulous: N = 19). These measurements were repeated three times at both sessions without removing the computerized axiograph. Reliability was assessed in multilevel analyses using the subject as a grouping variable in linear random-intercept models. Considering all assessment procedures, the patient-specific differences explained 75% of the variance for the sagittal and 38% for the transverse condylar path. This corresponds to the overall reliability of both the sagittal and the transverse CPIA assessment. The dentition had no significant impact on the reliability of the measurements. The sagittal CPIA can be assessed with satisfactory reliability using computerized axiography. It is independent of the status of the dentition, which has no statistically significant impact on the measures. Transverse CPIA measurements have shown poor reliability. Therefore, the electronic determination of the sagittal CPIA is a reliable procedure that can be applied in patients irrespective of the status of the mandibular dentition.

Improved perceived general health is observed with prosthodontic treatment.

OBJECTIVES: Prosthodontic treatment affects not only oral health, but also general health. However, whether prosthodontic patients actually perceive a change in their general health has not been well studied. This study aims to compare self-reported general-health status in patients before and after prosthodontic treatment. METHODS: Self-reported general-health status was measured using a single-item questionnaire in a consecutive sample of 500 prosthodontic patients. Responses were recorded using a five-point scale ranging from "poor" to "excellent." RESULTS: After treatment, patients' self-reported general-health status was slightly but statistically significantly improved. Perceived general health improved in 2.3% of patients treated with fixed partial dentures, in 11.3% of patients treated with removable partial dentures, and in 4.1% of patients treated with complete dentures. Changes in self-reported general-health status were not related to age or gender. CONCLUSION: Prosthodontic treatment appears to have a positive effect on perceived general health.

[An abbreviated version of RDC/TMD]. / Eine Kurzversion der RDC/TMD.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to develop a short diagnostic test for pain-related craniomandibular disorders (CMD) based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Participants included 1,177 CMD patients and 896 general population subjects who were examined according to the RDC/TMD. This new diagnostic short test consisted of a combination of the least amount of RDC/TMD items that distinguished between patients and subjects with a sensitivity of > or =70% and a specificity of > or =90%. The diagnostic test items were selected from all available RDC/TMD items using best subset logistic regression. RESULTS: The question about the presence of facial pain achieved a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 95%. The lower limits of the confidence interval for test accuracy measures exceeded the postulated thresholds specified for test development. Assuming a CMD pain prevalence of 10% in the general population this short test resulted in a positive predictive value of 80% and a negative predictive value of >99%. CONCLUSION: A single question about facial pain is a strong predictor for a pain-related CMD disorder and could provide an effective CMD short test.

Self-reported severity of taste disturbances correlates with dysfunctional grade of TMD pain.

Altered central neural processing of sensory information may be associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain. The objectives of this study were to compare the prevalence of self-reported taste disturbances in TMD pain patients and in a control population, and to determine whether frequency of taste disturbances was correlated with dysfunctional grade of TMD pain. Subjects were 2026 people within a German population sample and 301 consecutive TMD patients diagnosed using the Research Diagnostic Criteria. Taste disturbances were measured using two questions from the Oral Health Impact Profile. Dysfunctional grade of TMD pain was measured with the Graded Chronic Pain Scale. A two-sample test of proportions revealed that TMD patients reported a greater frequency of taste disturbances, 6%, than did the general population subjects, 2% (P < 0.001). Moreover, the frequency of taste disturbances correlated with the dysfunctional grade of TMD pain. For each 1 unit increase in taste disturbance, the odds of observing a higher grade of TMD pain increased by 29% (95% CI: 3-63%, P = 0.03). Analysis by individual taste question and adjustment for age and gender did not substantially affect the results. These findings are consistent with a central neural dysfunction in TMD pain and suggest that a common neural substrate may underlie sensory disturbances of multiple modalities in chronic pain patients. Further research regarding taste disturbances and trigeminally mediated pains such as in TMD is warranted.