The Impact of Diabetes, Smoking, and Periodontitis on Patients’ Oral Health related Quality of Life after Treatment with Corticobasal Implants - An Evaluative Study

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes, smoking, and periodontitis are considered risk factors for the survival of conventional dental implants; however, research about their impact on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of patients treated with corticobasal implants is lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred twenty-seven adult patients completed a postoperative OHRQoL questionnaire. Aspects of their oral health were examined in relation to periodontitis, diabetes, smoking, and against a control group with none of the conditions. A subgroup of 118 patients with pre- and postoperative OHRQoL data were studied for changes in their OHRQoL. The impact of the risk factors on the patients’ posttreatment OHRQoL was examined through multiple regression analysis. The paired data were analyzed through Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: The satisfaction with the treatment was high and robust irrespective of periodontitis, diabetes, smoking, or more than one factors, P > 0.05 for all tests. The smokers’ satisfaction was significantly higher than the nonsmokers, P = 0.003. The majority of the patients experienced a steady reduction in frequency to the full absence of oral health problems (P < 0.001 for all tests). The patients with periodontitis reported a significantly higher reduction in limitations related to food choice, P = 0.026. Posttreatment complications were few, mainly in the first postoperative year. DISCUSSION: Our results provide reassurance to patients with periodontitis, diabetes, and smokers that corticobasal implants are an effective treatment option with the same benefits for their oral health quality of life as for patients without these risk factors.