A new study finds that patients' perception of their general health improves after receiving prosthodontic treatment, adding more shine to the prospect of such treatment among some patients.
German researchers documented a small but statistically significant increase in self-reported general health status among some of the 500 people who received prosthodontic treatment in their study (Journal of Dentistry, April 2011, Vol. 39:4, pp. 326-331). The largest increase in health was documented among people who received removable partial dentures, followed by those who were given complete dentures and then those with fixed partial dentures.
— Gary Henkel, DDS, Horsham Dental
Elements
The study was led by Daniel Reissmann, DDS, of the prosthetic dentistry department at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf Center for Dental and Oral Medicine. He and three co-investigators measured the self-reported general health status in a consecutive sample of 500 prosthodontic patients using a single-item questionnaire. They recorded responses using a five-point scale ranging from "poor" to "excellent."
The researchers analyzed the outcomes of 213 patients at two centers who sought fixed partial dentures, another 239 who were given removable partial dentures, and 48 who sought complete dentures. The researchers compared these with those of 2,206 members of the general population.
Before prosthodontic treatment, 18.2% of the patients judged their general health to be very good or excellent, compared with 36% of subjects from the general population. Post-treatment, this percentage increased to 21.8% among patients.
In total, 22.2% of patients reported that their general health improved after treatment, 62% felt their general health stayed the same, and 15.4% rated their general health as having deteriorated post-treatment.
Overall, the treatment resulted in an improvement of perceived general health in 11.3% of patients who received removable partial dentures, 4.1% of those treated with complete dentures, and 2.3% of patients treated with fixed partial dentures, the researchers concluded. The improvement was only statistically significant among those with removable partial dentures.
Gary Henkel, DDS, director of Horsham Dental Elements in Philadelphia, commented that this study showed only a small increase in percentage of patients who reported excellent general health after treatment. However, it does add to the body of evidence showing benefits of prosthodontic treatment beyond just those to the teeth, he noted.
"I certainly have observed that when you transform people's teeth with prosthodontic work, there often are unbelievable changes in them. They'll join a health club or dress a lot better," Dr. Henkel said. "It really creates a major transformation in a lot of people."
Susan Brackett, DDS, a board-certified prosthodontist and director of public relations and communications for the American College of Prosthodontists, agreed that the results of the study are congruent with other evidence. She also noted that "common sense" indicates better teeth lead to better nutrition and overall better health.
"By restoring the appearance of the teeth, improving the patient's smile, and allowing the patient to eat comfortably, prosthodontists allow their patients to re-engage in social activities with confidence," Dr. Brackett told DrBicuspid.com. "This is in addition to the fact that if you can chew better you will receive better nutrition."
