The effect of prosthetic and dental status on oral health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older population: A cross-sectional study

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prosthetic status of community-dwelling individuals aged >= 65 years in the city center of Kayseri and evaluate the impact of these factors on their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Material and methods: In total, 457 older adults from Kayseri were included in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected from 21 Family Health Centers (FHCs). Sociodemographic data and prosthetic status were recorded, and the Turkish version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was administered to assess OHRQoL. Participants were classified into the following prosthetic groups: complete denture (CD), complete upper denture (CUD), complete lower denture (CLD), removable partial prosthesis (RPP), fixed prosthesis (FP), implant-supported overdenture (ISOD), natural dentition (ND), and need for prosthetic treatment (NP). Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman correlation tests, with a significance level set at p = 0.05. Results: The mean OHIP-14 score was 9.8. Women reported significantly higher OHIP-14 scores than men, and lower education level and income were associated with higher OHIP-14 scores. Individuals in NP group had the highest OHIP-14 scores, while participants with fixed prostheses reported better outcomes. There was a significant negative correlation between prosthesis satisfaction and OHIP-14 scores (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Fixed prostheses had the most positive effect on OHRQoL, while complete mandibular dentures were associated with lower outcomes. Gender, marital status, education, and income also significantly influenced OHRQoL, with women and lower socioeconomic groups reporting lower quality of life.