Oral health-related quality of life in patients with non-metal clasp dentures: a randomised cross-over trial.

We investigated the efficacy of non-metal clasp dentures (NMCDs) with regard to the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and compare the findings with those for conventional metal clasp-retained dentures (MCDs). This single-centre, randomised controlled, two-phase, open label, cross-over trial included 28 partially dentate individuals. The patients were randomised to receive MCDs followed by NMCDs, or the opposite sequence (n = 14 in each group); each denture was worn for 3 months. OHRQoL was evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile-Japanese version (OHIP-J) at entry (T-entry; before treatment with the first denture) and at 3 months after treatment with each denture (T3). An examiner evaluated denture stability, oral appearance and surface roughness before denture delivery (T0) and at T3 and denture hygiene at T3. A total of 24 patients completed the trial. There were no complications related to the dentures, abutment teeth or denture-bearing mucosa during the follow-up periods for both dentures. The mean OHIP summary score was lower for NMCDs than for MCDs, and the difference (9 points) was greater than the minimal important difference (6 points), indicating the difference was clinically relevant. The effect size was medium (0·70). Statistical analyses with linear mixed models found a significant effect of the denture type on the OHIP summary score and scores for the Oro-facial appearance, Oro-facial pain and Psychological impact domains (NMCD < MCD; P < 0·05). The results of our study suggest that NMCDs allow for better OHRQoL compared with MCDs.

Factors associated with mucosal pain in patients with partial removable dental prostheses.

The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with mucosal pain in patients with partial removable dental prostheses (PRDPs). In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, 333 patients wearing 500 PRDPs (mean age 71·4 years, men 33·3%) were consecutively recruited from prosthetic clinic of a dental hospital in Japan. Subjects rated pain intensity and frequency of denture-bearing mucosa. An examiner recorded age, gender and systemic diseases as well as dental, mucosa, denture, sensory, behavioural- and psychological-related characteristics that were possibly associated with the mucosal pain. Multivariate analyses were performed to analyse factors related to mucosal pain. Pain intensity was rated as more than score 0 (presence) in 34·2% (171/500) PRDPs, and pain was experienced after denture delivery in 42·8% (214/500) PRDPs. Logistic regression analyses showed that younger age, mucosal damage, poor mucosal condition, bone prominence, poor residual ridge, higher pain sensitivity, presence of awake bruxism, perception of oral dryness, interim denture wear and high number of missing teeth were significant independent predictors for the presence of the mucosal pain intensity and/or frequency (P < 0·05). Multiple factors are associated with mucosal pain in patients with PRDPs. Oral mucosal characteristics, age, pain sensitivity and behavioural factors seem to be more critical for mucosal pain than distribution of missing teeth and number of abutment teeth.