Patient satisfaction with removable partial dentures and related factors - A Pilot study

Background: Removable partial dentures play a pivotal role in restoring the overall comfort of the patient. Every skilled professional constructs dentures with utmost care, even then some patients will still be dissatisfied with their new dentures. The aim of this study is to know the effectiveness of therapy by evaluating patient satisfaction with function, appearance, retention and stability and comfort of removable prosthesis and to relate the influence of age, gender and level of education with patient satisfaction.Materials and methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted among the rural population of Mangalore taluk. The study involved completion of a pre-designed proforma . Statistical analysis of the data was done using the chi square test with the p value of <0.05 considered significant.Results: A total of 582 subjects aged 20 years and above formed the study population. Males were more satisfied with the appearance and comfort of the prosthesis. Females were more satisfied with the functioning of the prosthesis. Satisfaction with the function and appearance of the prosthesis was seen more in subjects of age group > 70 and least in subjects of age group 21-30. Satisfaction with the functioning of the prosthesis was seen more in illiterates and least in graduates.Conclusion: No matter how skilled a professional is, the acceptance of the prosthesis plays a major role in its success. Besides rehabilitation the professional must also motivate the subjects and create positive attitude towards prosthetic acceptance