Patients' Evaluations of Complete Denture Therapy and Their Association with Related Variables: A Pilot Study

Made available in DSpace on 2019-09-12T16:56:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)PurposePatient satisfaction is an important goal in complete denture therapy, and many factors influence this parameter. This study aimed to evaluate expectations before and satisfaction after therapy with complete dentures. As a secondary objective, other variables that may interfere with patient satisfaction were also evaluated. Material and MethodsA representative sample of 99 patients assigned visual analog scale (VAS) scores to their expectations before and satisfaction after therapy regarding chewing, esthetics, comfort, and phonetics. Demographic data and answers to a questionnaire concerning the dentists' conduct were recorded. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the association among studied variables and patients' expectation and satisfaction with their dentures. ResultsThe average VAS scores were high for both expectations and satisfaction, and satisfaction exceeded expectations. Patients' expectations about esthetics and comfort were associated with age and self-reported time of using complete dentures. Patient satisfaction regarding chewing was associated with the number of postdelivery adjustments. Also, patient satisfaction regarding esthetics was associated with gender and esthetic expectations. In regard to phonetic satisfaction, associations were verified among self-reported time of using complete dentures, comfort and phonetics expectations, and dentists' explanations. Comfort satisfaction was associated only with educational level. ConclusionsPatient satisfaction regarding complete dentures exceeded expectations and an expressive majority of positive evaluations of the dentists was noticed. Many patient-related variables seemed to influence their evaluations of their dentures.[Oliveira Santos, Beatriz Ferreira; Fernandes Santos, Jarbas Francisco] Universidade de Taubaté (Unitau), Dept Dent[Fernandes dos Santos, Mateus Bertolini] Univ Fed Pelotas, Sch Dent, Rua Goncalves Chaves 457-502, BR-96015560 Pelotas, RS, Brazil[Fernandes Santos, Jarbas Francisco] Univ Vale do Paraiba, Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil[Marchini, Leonardo] Univ Iowa, Coll Dent, Dept Prevent & Community Dent, Iowa City, IA 52242 US