IMPACT OF CONVENTIONAL REMOVABLE DENTURES ON ORAL HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN PARTIALLY AND COMPLETELY EDENTULOUS PATIENTS TREATED BY DENTAL STUDENTS IN KARBALA, IRAQ

Background and Objective: Edentulism continues to be a significant oral health challenge globally, especially
among aging populations and those with restricted access to advanced dental care. Conventional removable dentures
remain the most accessible and affordable prosthetic treatment in developing countries. Evaluating oral health-related
quality of life (OHRQoL) after prosthodontic rehabilitation is critical to understanding treatment impact beyond
clinical success alone. Our objective is to evaluate changes in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among
partially and completely edentulous patients treated with conventional removable dentures fabricated by
undergraduate dental students at the University of Al-Ameed, Karbala, Iraq.
Methods: Sixty patients were assessed using a validated questionnaire adapted from the OHIP-EDENT before and
eight weeks after receiving dentures. The survey covered functional, psychological, and social domains. Data were
analyzed using paired t-tests.
Results: Significant improvements were observed in all OHRQoL domains post-treatment, with the greatest gains in
functional limitation and psychological discomfort. Subgroup analysis revealed similar benefits for both partial and
complete denture wearers, regardless of age, sex, or comorbidities.
Conclusion: Student-fabricated removable dentures significantly improved OHRQoL, supporting their clinical
effectiveness and educational value.