Self-reported oral health and denture satisfaction in partially and completely edentulous patients.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to explore variables that might influence self-reported oral health and denture satisfaction in partially and completely edentulous patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study sample was recruited from 294 patients treated with complete dentures at the Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Bergen, Norway, between 1997 and 2005. The 172 respondents completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding demographics, denture status, appetite, avoiding food items, satisfaction with dentures, various aspects of wearing dentures, and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-20).

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 67 years; 52% were men. Sixty-seven percent of patients had complete maxillary and mandibular dentures, while 33% had a complete maxillary denture and a dentate mandible. There were no significant group differences regarding age, sex, general health, appetite, avoiding food items, chewing, speech, maxillary denture esthetics, or the OHIP-20. However, striking group differences were found in the number and nature of significant variables associated with reported oral health and denture satisfaction at all levels of analyses. Thus, oral health in the completely edentulous was associated with the OHIP-20, avoiding food items, and satisfaction with dentures, while in the partially edentulous, it was associated with maxillary denture retention and age. Similarly, satisfaction with dentures in the completely edentulous was associated with the OHIP-20, global oral health, and some clinical variables, while in the partially edentulous, it was associated with the OHIP-20 and some clinical variables. Predictors for oral health in the completely edentulous were the OHIP-20, speech, and avoiding certain food items; in the partially edentulous, they were denture retention and age. Predictors for denture satisfaction in the completely edentulous were the OHIP-20 and maxillary denture esthetics; in the partially edentulous, only maxillary denture comfort served as a predictor. Also, the completely edentulous reported better oral health and satisfaction with their dentures than the partially edentulous.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that the completely and partially edentulous differ in variables associated with, and predictive for, both self-reported oral health and denture satisfaction.