Association of cephalometric changes after 5 years of complete dentures wearing and oral health-related quality-of-life

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to investigate cephalometric changes after 5 years of wearing complete dentures (CDs) and to asses a possible relationship between changes in cephalometric parameters and patients' oral health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

New complete maxillary and mandibular dentures were fabricated for 30 participants. Two lateral radiographs were obtained from each participant with their CDs in the position of maximal intercuspidation (centric relation): the first radiograph was obtained at the CDs delivery and the second one after 5 years of CDs wearing. A questionnaire (OHIP 14) was given to all participants at the 5-year appointment.

RESULTS

Significant differences in most linear and angular cephalometric measurements were found after 5 years of CDs wearing, due to the reduction of the height of the lower third of the face and the forward shifting of the mandible. A significant correlation between the OHIP summary scores and five cephalometric variables was found (ANS-Xi/Xi-Pm angle, FH/N-Pog angle, SN/Go-Gn angle, Go-Gn/ANS-PNS angle and occlusal plane/FH), indicating that more severe cephalometric changes were related with the increase of OHIP scores.

CONCLUSION

Changes of cephalometric angles due to lowering of the face and forward shifting of the mandible were related to the decreased OHRQoL (increased OHIP scores).

Decreasing of residual alveolar ridge height in complete denture wearers. A five year follow up study

The resorption of the residual alveolar ridges is a chronic and continuous process of bone remodeling. The aim of this study was to analyse the rate of residual ridge resorption at different sites in the both jaws in complete denture wearers, through a five-year period of denture wearing. Residual ridge changes were measured on successive lateral cephalograms at 5 measurement points of the maxilla and the mandible. The first lateral radiograph was obtained at the delivery of complete dentures. The second lateral cephalogram was obtained after five years of denture wearing. Measurements were performed using a calibrated grid. The results of this study showed the existence of a significant alveolar ridge resorption at all five measurement points of the maxilla and the mandible. The observed variables, such as body mass index and the night time denture wearing had no significant influence on the rate of residual alveolar ridge resorption (p > 0.05). The duration of edentulousness had a significant influence on the rate of residual ridge resorption with significantly higher amounts of alveolar bone height decrease in those patients who had lost the last remaining teeth more recently.