Problems in the assessment of complete dentures.

The evidence for the reliability of some of the most widely used criteria for the assessment of complete dentures is reviewed and a number of factors discussed which might account for the contradictory nature of this evidence, including methods of statistical analysis, the wording of criteria and possible extraneous influences on the judgment of observers using the criteria. Adequate and consistent reliability has not been demonstrated for any of the criteria which have been proposed and the development of either more reliable criteria or of objective tests of the performance of complete dentures is a priority if the results of epidemiological surveys of complete dentures are to be regarded as meaningful.