DEMOGRAPHIC, ODONTOLOGICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLES IN INDIVIDUALS REFERRED FOR OSSEOINTEGRATED DENTAL IMPLANTS

Edentulism and/or the wearing of a removable denture always requires adaptation, not only on a functional, but also on an emotional, level. Four hundred and seventy-three patients referred for treatment with osseointegrated implants due to problems with removable prostheses entered the study and 315 (66.6%) completed it. The average age was close to 60 yr, and the majority of patients were women. The average time of edentulousness was 14.3 yr. Twelve percent experienced profound negative effects from wearing dentures, this to an extent that it led to overt psychological and social effects. Subjective ratings revealed that functional and/or intra-personal effects were of higher significance than social consequences. The group was found to be more depressed than average as well as having an external health locus of control orientation.