Abstract This longitudinal study aimed to assess the performance of the Facility-Equator system as mandibular overdenture (MO) retainers from a prosthetic perspective during 2 years of loading and to investigate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and whether prosthetic events can affect the OHRQoL. Twenty-four patients (68.1 ± 7.51 years) reported their OHRQoL through the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-EDENT) questionnaires before MO loading and after 1 and 2 years of usage. Prosthetic occurrences were recorded during this period. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test, Mann-Whitney test, and Spearman correlation coefficients. Of the 127 prosthetic events that occurred in the first year, the most frequent events were prosthesis adjustments (16.5%), dislodgement of the Equator attachment (14.17%), and O-ring replacement (11.8%). Eighty-seven prosthetic events were recorded in the second year, the most frequent events being prosthesis adjustments (27.6%), O-ring replacement (20.7%), and recapturing the female matrix (11.5%). All domains of the GOHAI and OHIP-EDENT questionnaires exhibited a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the baseline and 1- and 2-year evaluations, except in the Social Disability and Psychological Discomfort domains (p > 0.05) of OHIP-EDENT after 1 year. Complications related to prosthetic maintenance, such as fracturing of the prosthesis, Equator dislodgement, prosthesis rebasing, and new overdenture confection, affect the OHRQoL (p < 0.05), primarily the Physical Pain and Discomfort domains, especially in the first year of MO loading.

Resumo Este estudo observacional transversal com 24 participantes teve como objetivo avaliar as diferenças na força de mordida (FM) e na PM (performance mastigatória) entre usuários de prótese total convencional (PTC) e de overdenture mandibular (OM) e a correlação entre essas variáveis. O teste de FM foi realizado bilateralmente com um dispositivo de força oclusal. Durante o teste de PM, os pacientes foram solicitados a mastigar uma porção padronizada de Optocal por 40 ciclos mastigatórios. O teste de Shapiro Wilk foi empregado para verificar a normalidade dos dados, o teste T de Student para identificar diferenças entre os grupos e os coeficientes de correlação de Pearson para investigar inter-relações entre variáveis. Uma regressão linear múltipla foi realizada pelo método stepwise. Valores de p≤0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significantes. Diferentemente dos usuários de OM, os usuários de PTC apresentaram uma diferença significativa (34%) na FM entre o lado dominante e o não dominante (p=0,04). Os usuários de OM apresentaram FM significativamente maior (p=0,01) sem apresentar um lado dominante (p=0,38) e obtiveram PM significativamente melhor nos seguintes parâmetros: os valores de PMX50 diminuíram 27,25% (p=0,01), PMB diminuiu em 48,38% (p=0,01), e EM 5.6 diminuiu 53,25% (p=0,02), enquanto EM2.8 aumentou 151,57% (p=0,01). A FM e PMX50 no grupo de usuários da IMO foram negativamente correlacionados (-0,57;p=0,05); esse coeficiente de correlação foi o único parâmetro incluído no modelo de regressão multivariada. Os usuários da OM possuem maior FM e melhor performance mastigatória do que os usuários de PTC, observados principalmente na redução do tamanho das partículas mastigadas. A PM está correlacionada com um maior FM nos usuários da OM através de uma melhor trituração de partículas.

Abstract: This cross-sectional observational study with 24 patients evaluated differences in bite force (BF) and masticatory performance (MP) between conventional complete denture (CCD) and implant mandibular overdenture (IMO) users and the correlation between these variables. The BF test was performed bilaterally with an occlusal force device. During the MP test, patients were asked to chew Optocal particles for 40 cycles. The Shapiro Wilk test was employed to verify the normality of the data, the student t test to identify differences between groups, and Pearson’s correlation to investigate interrelationships between variables. A multiple linear regression was subsequently performed via the stepwise method. P values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant. Unlike IMO users, CCD users presented a significant difference (25.6%) in BF between the dominant and non-dominant chewing side (p=0.04). IMO users presented significantly higher BF (p=0.01) without presenting a dominant side (p=0.38), and also performed significantly better for the following MP parameters: MPX50 values decreased by 27.25% in IMO users (p=0.01), MPB decreased by 48.38% (p=0.01), and ME 5.6 decreased by 53.25% (p=0.02), while ME2.8 increased by 151.57% (p=0.01). The BF and MPX50 in the IMO wearers group were negatively correlated (-0.57; p=0.05); this correlation coefficient was the only parameter included in the multivariate regression model. IMO users have higher BF and better masticatory performance than CCD users, especially in terms of chewed particles size reduction. MP is correlated with a higher BF in IMO users through better particle trituration.

Abstract The aim of this longitudinal observational study was to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) following patient rehabilitation with implant-retained mandibular overdentures (IMO) and to identify the contribution of the different domains to OHRQoL. The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-EDENT), Dental Impact on Daily Living (DIDL), and Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) questionnaires were completed twice by 25 patients: after 3 months of rehabilitation with complete dentures (CD) and after 3 months of IMO loading using stud abutments. The evaluation after IMO rehabilitation showed significant improvement in three DIDL domains: appearance (p = 0.011), eating and chewing (p = 0.003), and general performance (p = 0.003). The GOHAI results showed significant differences in two domains: psychosocial (p = 0.005) and pain and discomfort (p = 0.0004). The OHIP-EDENT outcomes showed significant improvements in five domains: functional limitation (p = 0.0001), physical pain (p = 0.0002), physical disability (p = 0.0010), and psychological disability and handicap (p = 0.032). The largest observed effect sizes were close to one standard deviation and were observed in the eating and chewing domain (0.93) of the DIDL; the pain and discomfort domain (0.83) of the GOHAI, and the functional limitation (0.89), physical pain (1.02), physical disability (0.84) domains of the OHIP-EDENT. The percentage of satisfied patients increased in all domains. Self-reported OHRQoL of CD wearers was significantly improved after 3 months of treatment with IMO, especially concerning the functional and pain-related aspects.