Implant retained or conventional dentures, which give more patients satisfaction?

Abstract

DESIGN: This was a randomised controlled trial (RCT) set in a dental hospital. INTERVENTION: The implant group (IG) had two implants placed in the interforaminal region of the lower jaw followed (after healing) by a denture fixed to the implants by a ball attachment mechanism. In the conventional dentures group (CG), dentures were constructed using conventional replacement denture techniques. Patients in the IG had conventional upper dentures made in the same fashion. OUTCOME MEASURE: The performance of the dentures was evaluated using an oral health impact profile (OHIP) and a denture satisfaction scale before treatment and 3 months post-treatment. RESULTS: Analysis was conducted on an intention-to-treat basis. Substantial improvements in oral-health-related quality of life and denture satisfaction were reported by both groups. There were, however, no significant differences post-treatment between the groups. Patients randomised to the IG who declined implants had significantly lower pretreatment OHIP scores and there were significantly greater pre-/ post-treatment change-scores for individuals who had implants compared with the change-scores of people who declined. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant post-treatment differences between the groups, but a treatment effect may be masked by the intention-to-treat analysis. The pre-/ post-treatment OHIP change-scores were significantly greater for people receiving implants than for those who refused.