Journal of dental sciences
Interaction between removable partial denture use and number of natural teeth on health-related quality of life in older adults: A cross-sectional study
By Liao PS, Chou CH, Zheng YX and 3 others.
Abstract
Background/purpose
The compensatory benefit of removable partial dentures (RPDs) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) depends on the number of natural teeth. This study aimed to evaluate the interaction between RPD use and number of natural teeth on HRQoL, measured by EuroQoL 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Materials and methods
This cross-sectional study included 410 older adults. Dental status, including the number of natural teeth and the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index, and RPD use were assessed. Participants were categorized into three groups (0-9, 10-19, and ≥20 natural teeth). HRQoL was measured using the EQ-5D-5L and VAS. Generalized linear models with a gamma log-link function were employed to examine the association between RPD use and HRQoL after adjusting for age, sex, and DMFT index. Interaction effects between RPD use and the number of natural teeth were analyzed.