Impact of Removable Partial Denture on Quality-of-life of Sudanese Adults in Khartoum State.

INTRODUCTION: Tooth loss can affect a patient's quality-of-life (QoL), impacting on aspects, such as nutritional intake, psychological status, self-image, and daily engaging in social interaction. The purpose of this study was to assess the oral health-related QoL (OHRQoL) among adult Sudanese patients wearing removable partial dentures (RPDs) by utilizing oral health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14) to assess patient satisfaction with their dentures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included 370 adult patients wearing RPDs. Of these, 99 were males and 271 females with the age range of 35 to above 60 years. Self-reported questionnaires were distributed randomly to be completed by the participants from each health sector after having read a consent letter. Two measures interpreting the OHIP-14 scales (sum and prevalence) were utilized for data collection. The relationship of patients' demographic characteristics, general and oral health status, and denture characteristics with their OHRQoL was investigated. The data were processed and analyzed by means of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). RESULTS: The means of OHIP-14 sum and OHIP-14 prevalence of partial denture wearers were 10.9 + 7.8 and 18.9% respectively. The most problematic aspects of OHIP-14 were functional limitation and psychological disability. On the contrary, the participants had little problem as a handicap and social disability aspects. The self-reported oral health, regular follow-up, denture satisfaction, duration of denture wearing use of the denture while eating, and frequency of denture cleaning positively contribute to oral health-related quality. CONCLUSION: Loss of teeth and use of RPD significantly affect patients' oral health status and QoL. Patients who are satisfied with their dentures have a better QoL than their unsatisfied counterparts.

Third molar impaction in the Jazan Region: Evaluation of the prevalence and clinical presentation.

OBJECTIVE: To provide information on the prevalence and clinical features of impacted third molar teeth in the South-Western region of Saudi Arabia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 1200 panoramic radiographs (50% males and 50% females) were retrieved from the electronic clinical records of patients at the College of Dentistry, Jazan University from December 2014 to December 2016, and impacted third molars were evaluated. Data on clinical and radiographic presentation were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, there were 291 (24.3%) patients with impacted third molars among 1200 radiographs. The distribution of impacted third molars according to the number of impacted teeth was as follows: one impaction in 121 (41.6%); two impactions in 90 (30.9%); three impactions in 42 (14.4%); and four impactions in 38 (13.1%) patients. There was a high prevalence of all impaction types among females (54.5%). Maxillary vertical angulation was most common (50%) followed by mandibular mesioangular angulation (48.3%). The depth of impaction in maxillary teeth was higher than in mandibular teeth. Pain was uncommon (4.5% of patients). DISCUSSION: Clinically, vertical impaction in the maxilla was present in 50% of patients because of limited posterior space, and mesioangular angulation in the mandible was present in 48% of patients because of inadequate space between the ramus and the second molar. These findings are similar to other reports. Vertical impaction of the maxillary wisdom tooth is mostly related to the discrepancy between the mesiodistal size of the tooth crown and the limited retromolar space. CONCLUSION: Noiseless presentation of an impacted third molar requires raising the population's awareness about the need for diagnosis and treatment of the problem to avoid any further complications. The study can be to guide surgical procedures. This study documented the prevalence, pattern, and clinical features of impacted third molars in South Western region of Saudi Arabia.