Abstracts

Patients' self-perceived impacts and prosthodontic needs at the time and after tooth loss

Linéia Tavares Teófilo; Cláudio Rodrigues Leles

Department of Prevention and Oral Rehabilitation, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil

^{Correspondence} Correspondence: Prof. Dr. Cláudio Rodrigues Leles Departamento de Prevenção e Reabilitação Oral, Faculdade de Odontologia, UFG Praça Universitária, S/N, Setor Universitário, 74605–220 Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil Tel: +55–62–35211524 e–mail: crleles@odonto.ufg.br

ABSTRACT

Studies on self–perception have demonstrated that tooth loss is associated with esthetic, functional, psychological and social impacts for individuals. However, not all subjects seek treatment immediately after tooth loss, even when desire for replacement is strongly expressed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perception of patients submitted to tooth extraction about factors associated with tooth loss and prosthodontic treatment, at the time and after extraction. A convenience sample of 211 consecutive patients were clinically evaluated and answered to a questionnaire about perceived impacts and prosthodontic treatment needs. Data were collected at the time of extraction and after a 3–month time interval. Perceived impacts were high (21 to 76% at the time and 35 to 87% after extraction). From 72.5% patients who expressed intention of immediate replacement of edentulous spaces, only 8.1% had actually been treated. Financial limitation was considered the most important factor that restricted access to treatment. Bivariate statistical analysis showed association between immediate dental replacement and anterior tooth loss (p=0.00) and extension of edentulous space (p=0.01). Position of lost teeth was associated to perceived functional limitation (p=0.03). Worsened appearance was associated to tooth loss in the maxillary arch (p=0.02), and desire of prosthodontic treatment was associated to the extension of edentulous space (p=0.05). Perceived impacts were more frequent in women than men. It was concluded that although patients usually expressed prosthodontic treatment needs, clinical and financial issues are determinant factors for tooth replacement.

Key Words: perception, extraction, dental prosthodontics.

RESUMO

Estudos de autopercepção têm demonstrado que a ausência de dentes pode resultar em impactos estéticos, funcionais, psicológicos e sociais, embora nem todos os indivíduos demandam por tratamento protético imediato após a perda dentária. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a percepção de pacientes submetidos a exodontia em relação a fatores associados à perda e ao tratamento protético, no momento e após a perda dos dentes. Uma amostra de conveniência de 211 pacientes consecutivos foi avaliada quanto à condição clínica, autopercepção dos impactos orais e necessidade de tratamento, por meio de exame clínico e questionário, no momento e após 3 meses da exodontia. A percepção de impactos da perda dentária foi alta (21–76% no momento e 35–87% após a exodontia). Dos 72,5% pacientes que relataram pretender a reposição protética imediata apenas 8,1% realizaram o tratamento. A motivação financeira foi relatada como o maior impedimento para o tratamento. A análise univariada mostrou associação entre reposição imediata e localização anterior da perda (p=0,00) e extensão do espaço desdentado (p=0,01), entre localização da perda e limitação funcional percebida (p=0,03). O incômodo com a aparência foi relacionado à localização da perda no arco superior (p=0,02), o desejo por tratamento protético foi relacionado à extensão do espaço desdentado (p=0,05). Na maioria dos aspectos avaliados a percepção de problemas associados à perda foi maior no sexo feminino. Conclui–se que, embora a necessidade percebida de tratamento protético seja alta, fatores clínicos e sócio–econômicos são determinantes para a realização do tratamento.

INTRODUCTION

Self–perceived prosthodontic needs are determined by a sort of functional, esthetic, psychological and social impacts due to tooth loss (1,2). These impacts have detrimental effects on oral health related to quality of life (OHRQoL) measures (3,4) and different levels of prosthodontic intervention are needed as a standard of care to improve condition of edentulous patients (5).

Nevertheless not all patients with incomplete dental arch need treatment perceive their condition as harmful or deleterious (6). Clinical factors, like number and location of absent teeth, age, gender, impaired function, discomfort and dissatisfaction with appearance, and other sociodemographic, cultural and financial determinants are known as important ingredients of perceived treatment needs and, as consequence, essential aspects of clinical decision making (7–10).

Another issue that influences demand for prosthodontic treatment is the time between tooth loss and seek for treatment. It was hypothesized that self–perceived need and expressed desire for replacement are greater at the time of tooth loss (11). It was also suggested that self–perceived treatment need might be overestimated because many patients do not seek immediate intervention, especially when anterior teeth are not involved, and patients need time to understand the potential impacts of tooth loss. Need–demand relation will be dependent on perceived extension of impacts, feasibility and availability of health care services (1).

This study assessed patients' perceived impacts of tooth loss and prosthodontic needs at the time of extraction and if their perceptions change after a short–term interval.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A short–term prospective cohort study was designed. Data were collected at two stages: at the time of dental extraction and after a 3–month interval (considered as when prosthodontic treatment is suitable after tissue healing and soundness). A convenience sample of consecutive patients was selected during 5 months at the Oral Surgery Clinic at the School of Dentistry of Goiás Federal University. All patients were scheduled for elective dental extraction. Exclusion criteria were third molar surgery (complete dentition), extraction for orthodontic purposes, emergency dental problems with acute symptoms, and patients unable to answer the questionnaire or who refuse to participate. Informed consent was obtained from all participants and the institutional review board approved the ethical aspects of the research protocol.

Clinical examination was performed at the tooth extraction appointments, before surgery. It included socio–demographic variables age, gender and educational level, and clinical variables position, extension and number of previous edentulous areas, and reasons for extraction, location of edentulous spaces and number of teeth indicated for extraction. Position of edentulous spaces was classified as anterior, posterior or both, and as upper, lower or both; extension was small (1–2 teeth) or large (3 or more teeth), and number was classified as single or multiple.

Patients' self–perception was examined by a questionnaire that included dichotomous questions about functional, esthetic and psychosocial impacts associated to tooth loss, and perceived prosthodontic treatment need. Questions were based and adapted from the Oral Health Impact Profile instrument (12).

After 3 months, patients were contacted by phone and/or mail and returned for another clinical examination and questionnaire. Patients were questioned if they had replaced the extracted teeth and, if not, the reason why they did not demand for immediate replacement. Perceived consequences of tooth loss were included in another 8 dichotomous questions.

Quantitative analysis was done by descriptive statistics and chi–square test (a=5%). SPSS 12.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used.

RESULTS

A total of 211 patients were included in the study (40.8% male; 59.2% female). Age ranged from 15 to 82 years, mean 39.5 (±14.5) years, and 71% were aged 30 years or more. Low educational level of patients was observed most participants (59.8%) had not completed formal basic education.

At The Time of Extraction

Table 1 shows that, at the time of extraction, most patients (89.6%) had prior edentulous spaces. Mean number of absent teeth per patient was 10.4 (±7.4) and edentulous spaces were predominantly large (55%), posterior (50.2%) or posterior/anterior (49.2%), in both arches (74.1%) and multiple (86.7%). Almost ¾ of patients (72.5%) had non–treated edentulous spaces. Most patients (88.5%) have been using removable dentures (partial or complete) to replace anterior teeth only (15.4%) or combined anterior and posterior teeth (78.9%), and 80.7% of the dentures were in the upper arch exclusively. The main reason for extraction was dental caries in 82.5% of extracted teeth.

As detailed in Table 2, patients' perceptions of impacts associated to dental loss were considered high at the time of extraction (20.9 to 75.8%). Although 96.2% judged to be important immediate replacement of extracted teeth, only 72.5% intended to treat edentulous spaces shortly after extraction. Almost all patients believe that prosthodontics have the ability of solving all potential problems that might follow dental loss (92.4%) and few of them believe in potential risks (26.1%).

At the time of extraction, perception of impacts was significantly higher in females. Chi–square test revealed differences in perception of worsened digestion (p=0.00), general health (p=0.023) and appearance (p=0.001), and being upset because of dental condition (p=0.010) and worried about it (p=0.043). No differences in age groups were verified, except for intention to seek treatment shortly after extraction, which was higher in patients older than 40 years (p=0.001). Frequency of perception of potential risks and benefits of prosthodontic treatment is shown in Table 3. Benefits were mostly associated with esthetics (74.4%) and function (64.9%). Reports of potential risks (n=55) referred to oral discomfort (30.9%) and injuries to the remaining teeth (29.1%). Financial constrains was the most reported reason for not treating prior edentulous spaces (82.7%).

After Extraction

After tooth extraction, 173 patients (82%) returned for the second evaluation. From the 38 patients that withdrew the study, 50% were male, 63.2% were younger than 40 years. Reasons for droput were loss of follow–up (33), not return to appointment (3), 1 moved away for another county and 1 died. The time between tooth extraction and second evaluation ranged from 81 and 217 days, mean time 114 ± 25 days (3.8 months).

Only 14 patients (8.1%) had been treated with prosthodontics in the interval between the first and the second evaluation. Most cases involved substitution of anterior teeth (71.5%). Table 4 shows that demand for treatment was greater for anterior teeth (p=0.000) and large edentulous spaces (p=0.008).

Perceived impacts were higher after extraction, ranging from 34.7 to 93.6% (Table 5). Although 93.6% reported that consider prosthodontic is necessary only 8.1% actually had been treated shortly after extraction, and 63% of patients believed that they were able to preserve the remaining teeth, even though almost all of them had previously experienced loss of natural teeth.

After dichotomization of variables, chi–square test reveals that position of extracted teeth was related to perception of food avoidance (p=0.03), worse general health (p=0.04), and negative influence on social relationships (p=0.03). Patients with extracted teeth in the upper arch perceived worse appearance (p=0.02) and patients with larger edentulous spaces perceived more need of treatment (p=0.049). No perceived impacts were associated with the number of edentulous spaces. Female patients expressed more difficult to chew (p=0.001), worsened general health (p=0.008), worsened appearance (p=0.001) and were upset because of dental condition (p=0.001). Patients older than 40 years felt more need of treatment (p=0.036).

The most commonly reported reason for not seeking treatment after teeth extraction was financial constrain (88.8%), followed by lack of time (9.0%), not feeling necessary (7.6%) and poor motivation (5.6%).

Differences in self–perception between initial and final examination are given in Table 6. Perception of a worse general health (p=0.001) and embarrassment (p=0.009) were significantly more reported after extraction. There were also marked discrepancies between frequencies of patients who had reported perceived need of prosthodontics and those who demanded treatment (p=0.000). Intra–subject agreement between initial and final report of patients ranged from 68 to 96%, and kappa coefficient ranged from 0.32 to 0.52.

DISCUSSION

Patients' self–perceived needs and expressed desires and expectation are essential parts of an evidence–based model for prosthodontic treatment planning (13). Since patients perceive wide ranges of dental needs, it was assumed that not only clinical aspects of tooth loss influence treatment needs. Human ability to adapt physically and psychologically to changes in oral condition, and cope with these impacts when pain symptoms are absent, may act in addition to external factors like environment and social context.

At the time of extraction self–perception of impacts ranged from 20.9% to 75.8% and great part of patients expressed desire for immediate reposition (72.5%). The psychological effects of tooth loss and previous experiences of different degrees of edentulousness justify the extent of these frequencies. Most patients (89.6%) had previous tooth loss and 43.6% had more than one tooth extracted. Trovik et al. (11) found that almost half of patients (47%) expressed desire for reposition at the time of extraction. Sociocultural characteristics and access to dental service may explain discrepancies in expressed desire for teeth reposition.

Gender and age can influence self–perception of impacts and prosthodontic need. As observed at the time and after tooth loss in the present study, McGrath et al. (14) found that women perceive greater impacts in OHRQoL measures than men. Likewise, intention for dental replacement was greater in older patients (>40 years) as observed by Trovik et al. (11) at the time of extraction.

Patients perceive potential benefits more than potential risks of prosthodontics, although many patients that have prior untreated edentulous spaces do not have been treated before (82.7%). Financial constrains was the most cited reason for not replacement of lost teeth. It is in accordance with McGrath and Bedi (15) that found that social class is the most important predictor in treatment decision making.

Only 8.1% of patients that returned for the second evaluation have replaced the extracted teeth. Even considering that short–term evaluation may underestimate demand for treatment, it suggests that only a small part of expressed demand at the time of extraction is translated into immediate actual treatment.

Clinical aspects, like anterior position and extension of edentulous space increased motivation for immediate treatment (6,16). Association with clinical variables reinforces that oral function and esthetics are important elements of quality of life. Few occluding pairs of posterior teeth are associated to chewing difficulties (3). However, it is widely known that patients usually tolerate absence of molars and a shortened dental arch with intact anterior sextant (6,7,17,18), but these are not the only predictors of treatment. Consequently, multiple individual and social dimensions are important to justify demand for treatment and may be considered by dental care providers (10).

Even though few patients received treatment after extraction, self–perceived treatment need remained high during second evaluation. Desire for replacement of lost teeth appears to be independent from time interval after extraction, as observed in this short–term study. When esthetics is not involved and oral function is not severely disturbed, decision to treat is highly patient–dependent, and normative aspects may play a secondary role in decision–making process. Long–term longitudinal studies are needed to verify to what extent time influences self–perceived impacts and treatment needs and what social and clinical variables are important predictors of prosthodontic needs.

In conclusion, self–perceived detrimental effects of tooth loss were considered high by patients at the time and after extraction. Esthetics and discomfort were mentioned as the major benefit and risk related to prosthodontics. Immediate replacement of extracted teeth was scarce (8.1%) and was mainly associated to anterior teeth and large edentulous spaces. Treatment demand was low, frequently due to financial restriction.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was supported by CNPq (Grant #134035/2003–8).

Accepted February 26, 2006

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