engleski

Splint Therapy and Gender Differences in Oral-Health-Related-Quality-Of-Life: 1-Year Prospective Study

The occlusal splint is considered a standard therapy for sleep bruxism (SB), but to the best of our knowledge, no prospective study has ever been done presenting gender differences in the oral-health-related-quality-of-life (OHRQoL) outcomes. Objectives: (a) To determine gender impact on OHRQoL outcomes in patients wearing a full-coverage hard acrylic splint for SB during the first year of splint therapy (ST) and (b) to compare the OHRQoL with controls using the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP-SVN). Methods: Data were collected from self-completed OHIP-SVN questionnaires administered three times: before ST, 13.89±4.38 days and 8.20±2.44 months after insertion of the splint. The impact of ST on the OHRQoL was assessed in 47 consecutive patients of the University Dental Clinic, who had received an occlusal splint by the same prosthodontist between January 2006 and December 2008. Most of the patients were females (66.0%, n=31, mean age±SD=37.55±14.15 years). Mean age±SD for males was 35.63±12.97 years (n=16). The regional population sample of random adults served as controls (n=400, mean age±SD=41.38±12.66 years). The OHRQoL was calculated as the summary score for the complete questionnaire as well as for all seven subscales of the OHIP-SVN. Results: OHRQoL was statistically significantly improved only in females with SB in the first year of ST (p=0.030 ; Wilcoxon signed ranks), while in males OHRQoL remained unchanged (p=0.172 ; Wilcoxon signed ranks). Within two weeks of ST there were no longer statistically significant differences considering OHRQoL between bruxers and general population (p=0.109 ; Mann-Whitney-U-test). When comparing psychological discomfort prior and several months after the beginning of ST, a significant increase in psychological discomfort was registered only in males (p=0.009 ; Wilcoxon signed ranks). Conclusions: Our data shows that ST for SB increases OHRQoL only in females. The OHRQoL in males remains unchanged. Other treatment modalities should also be considered when treating SB in males.

OHIP; OHRQoL; occlusal splint; bruxism

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