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

Abstract

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).