Influence of Complete Dentures on the Oral Health- Related Quality of Life in the Elderly; A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Islamabad

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the functional properties of complete dentures and oral health-related well-being in elderly edentulous individuals. A total of 200 elderly participants (aged ≥ 40 years) from a tertiary care hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, underwent intraoral examinations based on the 10 criteria of the Functional Assessment of Dentures (FAD) and completed personal interviews using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)-14. Mean OHIP-14 scores were analyzed using a t-test, while multiple regression identified significant FAD criteria linked to specific OHIP-14 domains, adjusting for gender and age. Results indicated that maxillary stability and retention, denture articulation, and occlusion were highly correlated with OHIP-14 scores. Among these, maxillary denture stability, retention, occlusion, and articulation were the most influential factors. A stable, well-retentive maxillary denture with proper articulation provided the best conditions for optimal oral function and enhanced oral health-related well-being in this elderly population.