School of Clinical Research, Central University of Nicaragua (UCN-Central Campus), Managua, Nicaragua.
School of Clinical Research, Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana.
BMC Oral Health. 2024 Jun 19;24(1):709. doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-04484-3.
Edentulism remains a major disability worldwide, especially among the elderly population, although the prevalence of complete edentulism has declined over the last decades. In Uganda, the prevalence of edentulism in people aged 20 years and above is 1.8%. The therapy for edentulous patients can be realized through the use of conventional removable complete dentures, implant-supported prostheses, and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CADCAM), however, the provision of removable complete dentures continues to be the predominant rehabilitation for edentulous patients. However, no published study has explored the lived experiences with removable complete dentures among the Ugandan population. The aim of the present study was to explore patients' lived experiences on the usage of removable complete dentures among Ugandan edentulous patients attending Makerere University Dental Hospital.
This was a qualitative study approach using purposive sampling. Fifteen (15) respondents were selected across social demographics. Interviews were recorded and transcribed and themes were generated to draw a deeper meaning to the usage of removable complete dentures. A qualitative statistical package, Atlas Ti software was used to generate themes from the interviews followed by an interpretation of the generated data and the results were presented as text and in a table.
The reported key positive experiences due to removable complete denture rehabilitation were the improvement in speech, eating ability, regaining good facial appearance, better oral hygiene management, self-esteem and confidence to smile in public, and a feeling of completeness. However, respondents complained of pain and discomfort due to the looseness of dentures, inability to eat certain foods, and regular cleaning of dentures. The respondents did not go through proper informed consent processes before getting removable complete dentures.
The study found that patients were satisfied with their removable complete dentures rehabilitation due to the positive experiences registered, such as the ability to eat and talk well, and restoration of self-esteem, all of which improved their quality of life. However, they experience pain and discomfort due to the looseness of dentures.
尽管在过去几十年中完全无牙的患病率有所下降，但无牙仍然是全球范围内的主要残疾，尤其是在老年人群中。在乌干达，20 岁及以上人群的无牙患病率为 1.8%。无牙患者的治疗方法可以通过使用传统的可摘局部义齿、种植体支持的义齿和计算机辅助设计和计算机辅助制造（CADCAM）来实现，但是，可摘局部义齿的提供仍然是无牙患者的主要修复方式。然而，目前还没有发表的研究探讨乌干达人群中可摘局部义齿的使用体验。本研究旨在探讨乌干达无牙患者在使用可摘局部义齿方面的生活体验。
这是一项采用目的抽样的定性研究方法。在社会人口统计学方面，选择了 15 名（15 名）受访者。对访谈进行了记录和转录，并生成了主题，以更深入地了解可摘局部义齿的使用。使用定性统计软件 Atlas Ti 从访谈中生成主题，然后对生成的数据进行解释，结果以文本和表格的形式呈现。
可摘局部义齿修复带来的积极体验主要包括改善言语、进食能力、恢复良好的面部外观、更好的口腔卫生管理、自尊心和在公共场合微笑的信心以及完整感。然而，受访者抱怨义齿松动、无法食用某些食物以及义齿需要定期清洁所带来的疼痛和不适。受访者在获得可摘局部义齿之前没有经过适当的知情同意程序。
本研究发现，患者对可摘局部义齿修复的满意度较高，因为他们在进食和说话能力方面获得了积极的体验，自尊心得到了恢复，这些都提高了他们的生活质量。然而，他们确实会因义齿松动而感到疼痛和不适。
