REMOVABLE DENTURE USE, POSTERIOR OCCLUSION, AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE: A COHORT STUDY FROM THE LIFE STUDY
Author(s)
Manami Hoshi-Harada, DDS, PhD1, Taro Kusama, DDS, PhD1, Anna Kinugawa, PhD1, Takashi Miyano, PhD2, Futoshi Oda, MPH3, Megumi Maeda, MPH, PhD3, Ken Osaka, MD, PhD1, Haruhisa Fukuda, MPH, DrPH3, Kenji Takeuchi, DDS, PhD1.
1Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Sendai, Japan, 2Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan, 3Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
1Tohoku University Graduate School of Dentistry, Sendai, Japan, 2Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan, 3Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
OBJECTIVES: Tooth loss reduces occlusal support and masticatory function, which can impair health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Because posterior occlusion (PO) may modify the impact of removable denture (RD) use on HRQoL, this study examined the association between RD use and HRQoL assessed using the EuroQol 5-dimension, 5-level instrument (EQ-5D-5L), while accounting for PO.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Longevity Improvement & Fair Evidence Study. Participants aged ≥60 years, who underwent health checkups and completed the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire between June 2024 and February 2025, were included. RD use and PO were identified from the claims data. PO was determined by counting functional support zones, defined as pairs of opposing premolars or molars in contact on each side. Generalized linear models were used to estimate the associations between RD use and HRQoL, and the mean differences in predicted EQ-5D-5L scores (average marginal effects [AMEs]) were calculated. The interaction between RD use and PO was examined.
RESULTS: A total of 562 participants were included (mean age: 71.1 [standard deviation = 5.8] years; 39.0% male), of whom 26.3% used RD. In models without interaction, RD use was not significantly associated with HRQoL after adjustment for potential confounders. However, a significant interaction between RD use and PO was observed on the multiplicative and additive scales. In terms of AMEs, RD use was associated with significantly higher HRQoL only among participants without PO (multiplicative scale: AME = 0.105, 95% CI= 0.062-0.148; additive scale: AME = 0.105, 95% CI= 0.060-0.150), exceeding the minimally important difference for EQ-5D-5L in the Japanese population.
CONCLUSIONS: RD use was associated with improved HRQoL among individuals without PO, but not among those with PO. These findings suggest that considering PO when prioritizing RD coverage may improve the efficiency of resource allocation and support sustainable universal health coverage.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Longevity Improvement & Fair Evidence Study. Participants aged ≥60 years, who underwent health checkups and completed the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire between June 2024 and February 2025, were included. RD use and PO were identified from the claims data. PO was determined by counting functional support zones, defined as pairs of opposing premolars or molars in contact on each side. Generalized linear models were used to estimate the associations between RD use and HRQoL, and the mean differences in predicted EQ-5D-5L scores (average marginal effects [AMEs]) were calculated. The interaction between RD use and PO was examined.
RESULTS: A total of 562 participants were included (mean age: 71.1 [standard deviation = 5.8] years; 39.0% male), of whom 26.3% used RD. In models without interaction, RD use was not significantly associated with HRQoL after adjustment for potential confounders. However, a significant interaction between RD use and PO was observed on the multiplicative and additive scales. In terms of AMEs, RD use was associated with significantly higher HRQoL only among participants without PO (multiplicative scale: AME = 0.105, 95% CI= 0.062-0.148; additive scale: AME = 0.105, 95% CI= 0.060-0.150), exceeding the minimally important difference for EQ-5D-5L in the Japanese population.
CONCLUSIONS: RD use was associated with improved HRQoL among individuals without PO, but not among those with PO. These findings suggest that considering PO when prioritizing RD coverage may improve the efficiency of resource allocation and support sustainable universal health coverage.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-09, ISPOR Asia Pacific 2026, Bangkok, Thailand
Value in Health, Volume 55, Issue S1
Code
EPH33
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
SDC: Geriatrics, SDC: Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)