The effect of a domiciliary denture service on oral health related quality of life: a randomised controlled trial

Objectives To assess the effectiveness of a domiciliary denture service on the oral health related quality of life (OHQoL) of older patients requiring complete dentures. Design Community based single-blind randomised controlled trial. Subjects and methods 133 edentate adults aged 65 years and over referred to a community dental service for domiciliary care were assigned to study and control groups using block randomisation. Treatment to provide the study group with complete dentures commenced immediately. Treatment for the control group was deferred to the normal waiting list but in the interim participants received three home visits from the dental team. Follow up data were collected three months after dentures had been fitted in the study group. Outcome measures Prevalence, extent of impacts and total scores using Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP). Results The study and control groups (n=65 and 68 respectively) had similar OHQoL at baseline. Two and five participants were lost to the study and control groups respectively. In ANCOVA and intention to treat analysis, the presence of impact, number of impacts and total scores for OIDP at follow up were predicted by group allocation (b=0.28, b=0.30, and b=0.32 respectively. All p<0.001). In all cases the study group showed significantly improved OHQoL compared to the control group. Conclusion A domiciliary denture service improved oral health related quality of life of housebound edentulous older people.