Patient satisfaction after receiving dental implants with immediate loading in the edentulous atrophic maxilla

Purpose: Ability in analyzing and understanding patient assessment is crucial in further development of implant technology. This study evaluated patient satisfaction for patients receiving six implants in the upper jaw and an implant supported bridge delivered within twenty-four hours after surgery using the Oral Health Impact Profile 49 questionnaire. Materials and Methods: 51 patients who were edentulous in the upper jaw were included in the study performed at two centres. Six implants were placed in the maxilla and loaded within twenty-four hours after installation with a temporary restoration. 2024 weeks later the permanent restorations were delivered. Patients were asked to fill in the OHIP 49 questionnaire prior to implant surgery and at three occasions after treatment. Data was collected and analysed. Results: Baseline satisfaction scores for the two different centres displayed no statistical differences. Treatment resulted in improved total OHIP 49 scores in both centres with no significant difference in-between centres. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in any of the individual preand post-treatment OHIP 49 domains between centres. All seven subgroups showed a statistically significant improvement in their post OHIP score but centre 1 tended to have a larger improvement in the Psychological discomfort-subgroup compared to centre 2. Conclusions: Measurement with the OHIP 49 questionnaire used displayed; patient satisfaction increases after treatment with a fixed restoration on implants loaded within 24 hours. Handledare: Karl Ekstrand, Associate Professor, Institution Klinisk Odontologi. The University of Oslo Examinator: Docent Inger Wårdh, Institutionen för Odontologi, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm