Impact of dental prosthetic treatment and patients' expectations on the seven domains and four‐dimensional scale of the Oral Health Impact Profile

Background Recently, recommendations were given for a new scoring of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP). The original seven domain structure should be replaced by a four‐dimensional scale. Objectives To investigate the effect of dental prosthetic treatment on the seven domains and the four‐dimensional scale of the OHIP‐G49/53 questionnaire. Methods Seventy four patients were grouped according their pre‐ and post‐treatment situation and the type of treatment they received. Patients completed the OHIP‐G49/53 questionnaire before prosthetic treatment (T0), and at 1 week (T1), 3 months (T2) and 6 months (T3) after treatment. Treatment effects on the seven domains and the four dimensions of the OHIP scale were analysed, and the oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) was measured. Patients' expectations of their prosthetic treatment were also evaluated. Data were analysed using two‐way Mixed ANOVA, regression analysis, and Cronbach's alpha test with a level of significance of α ≤ .017. Results OHRQoL significantly improved following prosthetic treatment compared with baseline. The largest improvement was found between T0 and T1 evaluations (all p ≤ .001). Unlike the seven‐domain scale, the four OHIP dimensions demonstrated further significant improvements across the T1/T2/T3 evaluations (all p ≤ .017). Different pre‐treatment findings had different treatment effects on the four OHIP dimensions and seven OHIP domains. Patients' expectations were mainly fulfilled. Conclusion Compared with the seven‐domain scale, the four dimensions showed significant follow‐up changes, suggesting the four dimensions are suitable for evaluating treatment effects up to 6 months. Clinically meaningful effects of dental prosthetic treatment can be sensitively measured using the four‐dimensional OHIP scale. Decrease in OHIP scores indicated an improvement of oral health related quality of life due to dental prosthetic treatment. Patients' expectations with regard to esthetics, oral functions, and stability and retention of dentures were fulfilled. Both OHIP scorings (seven domains and four‐dimensional scale) showed positive effects of dental treatment. The four‐dimensional scale sensitively revealed follow‐up changes in oral health related quality of life.