Changes in Oral Health-related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) During Full Arch Implant Treatment: A Prospective Study

Overview

Full arch implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis is widely accepted as a treatment modality for edentulous patients, presenting high long-term implant survival rates, although further research is necessary to evaluate patient satisfaction on a longer term and the psycho-social impact of this treatment on the daily life and functioning of patients. Patient-related outcome measures evaluated through oral health-related quality of life (OHRQol) parameters, patient satisfaction and patient preference allows to evaluate the impact of the prosthodontic needs.

The aim of this prospective observational cohort study is to evaluate changes in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) during the course of full-arch implant-supported rehabilitation. The study also aims to analyze whether the type of edentulous arch (maxilla or mandible) and the type of prosthetic rehabilitation (e.g. provisional vs definitive, and different prosthetic materials) influence the evolution of OHRQoL and patient satisfaction. Eligible patients will undergo immediate full-arch implant-supported treatment using 4, 6, or 8 implants per arch, depending on the anatomical and clinical indications. Immediate loading will be achieved through screw-retained acrylic provisional prostheses. After a healing period of 3 to 6 months, a definitive screw-retained prosthesis (monolithic zirconia, veneered zirconia, or hybrid prosthesis) will be delivered. Patient-reported outcomes will be assessed using three validated instruments: Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14 PT) * Assesses perceived oral health-related quality of life. * Administered at five time points: T0: Baseline (before surgery) T1: Day of surgery (calibration) T2: One month after surgery and provisional prosthesis placement T3: Prior to definitive prosthesis delivery T4: One month after definitive prosthesis placement Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ-PT) * Evaluates patients' self-perception and psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics. * Administered at: T0: Baseline T2: One month after surgery and provisional prosthesis placement T4: One month after definitive prosthesis placement Global Satisfaction Questionnaire \- Custom-made questionnaire with six items assessing patient satisfaction in the following domains: General condition Phonetics Chewing comfort Prosthesis stability Ease of cleaning (cleanability) Aesthetics - Each item is rated using a 4-point Likert scale: "Very satisfied", "Mostly satisfied", "Less satisfied", "Not at all satisfied". \- Administered at T4 only. Quantitative data collected from these instruments will be used to analyze the progression of OHRQoL throughout the rehabilitation process and to explore correlations between patient profiles (sociodemographic and clinical variables) and perceived outcomes. All questionnaires will be administered in Portuguese using secure digital platforms (Google Forms), ensuring patient confidentiality and data integrity.