Assessment of the quality of life of patients with abfraction tooth defects

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment of abfraction defects with respect to patients’ quality of life is relevant.

AIM: To analyze the results of the treatment of abfraction defects according to quality of life.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire survey of 158 people aged 30–49 years was conducted. Group 1 (n=34) received the modified adhesive protocol (glutaraldehyde and an adaptive layer of flowable composite) as muscle relaxant mouthguard; group 2 (n=36), modified adhesive protocol, not used a muscle relaxant mouthguard; group 3 (n=31), basic adhesive protocol as muscle relaxant kappa; group 4 (n=27), basic adhesive protocol, did not use a muscle relaxant mouthguard; and group 5 (n=30), patients with intact teeth. The quality of life was assessed before treatment and 6 months and 1 year after tooth restoration. The Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) Quality of Life Questionnaire was used.

RESULTS: A good initial level of quality of life was found in 35.2% of patients with abfraction defects and a satisfactory one in 64.8%. The average quality-of-life score of groups 1–4 was 12.9 (95%, 12.4–13.3). “Physical pain,” with a score of2.73 (95%, 2.63–2.84), made the greatest contribution to the quality of life. Twelve months after treatment, groups 1–4 had a significant average decrease in OHIP-14 by 7.7%. The OHIP-14 score on the “physical pain” scale decreased in group 1 by 28.8%, group 2 by 25.2%, group 3 by 17.5%, and group 4 by 13.2%.

CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestations of the abfraction defects of teeth significantly affect the quality of life of patients, particularly on “physical pain” and “physical discomfort.” The best dynamics of the quality of life was registered in patients who received the modified adhesive protocol and a muscle relaxant mouthguard.