Subjective values of different age groups in Japan regarding treatment for missing molars.

OBJECTIVE: To determine how patients and dentists in Japan value the outcomes of different treatment options for missing molars.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Elderly removable-denture wearers and dentate persons (senior group), preclinical dental students (young group), and prosthodontists were presented with five possible treatment options for missing lower bilateral first and second molars. The participants indicated on a visual analogue scale how they would value the treatment (utility value: UV), if they had received each of the treatments. Two-way repeated measures anova was used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS: The UV for the shortened dental arch (SDA) without replacement was the lowest in every group. The young group rated the value of cantilever fixed partial dentures (FPD) and implants significantly higher than removable partial dentures (RPD), while the senior group rated the value of FPD and RPD significantly higher than implants. Those having experience with removable dentures were likely to place a higher value on the acrylic RPD. The prosthodontists rated the value of implants significantly higher than any other options.

CONCLUSIONS: The participants in every group placed the lowest value on the outcome from the SDA in Japan. The denture wearers preferred the RPD, while prosthodontists preferred implants.