Impact of removable partial denture on quality of life measured after 6 months and 1 year of use

Aim: To assess the impact of removable partial denture (RPD) on the quality of life in patients wearing RPD after 1 year of use. Materials and methods: Observational study was conducted on a convenience sample of 50 patients who were delivered RPD in the Department of Prosthodontics. Oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) (translated to Tamil, but not validated) was used to measure the impact. Data were collected using telephonic interview at 6 months after the insertion of RPD (T1) and (T2) at the end of 1 year (time interval of 6 months) prospec-tively. Significant differences for prevalence, mean OHIP-14 scores, and extent were determined using t test. Results: Increase in mean OHIP-14 scores and extent was observed at T1 and T2. Almost all the dimensions of OHIP-14 had higher scores at T2 except psychological discomfort. Physical pain, physical disability, and psychological disability were dimensions with significant differences (p < 0.05). A five-fold increase in proportion was observed for physical disability and psychological disability among those reporting impacts as “very often/fairly often.” Conclusion: The RPD had detrimental effect on wearer’s quality of life with significant impact for painful aching in the mouth, feeling a bit embarrassed, and difficulty in chewing. Wearing RPD significantly increases the extent of impacts within a short time span of 6 months. Clinical significance: The RPD can have a considerable impact on quality of life, which can either ameliorate or deteriorate. Patients have to be counseled periodically at subsequent recall visits and their quality of life measured, which will enable clinicians to rectify, assess, and provide adequate care to improve the overall quality of life.