Journal of Dental Herald

Journal of Dental Herald

www.dherald.in

(April 2014) Issue:2, Vol.:1

E ISSN No. : 2348 1331
P ISSN No. : 2348 134X

Original Article

Awareness And Preference Of Needs Among Dental Patients Towards Artificial Prosthesis
Jasjit Kaur1, Navneet Sharma2, Parikshit Gupt3, Amit Kumar Babbar4
1

Senior lecturer Department of Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, Himachal Dental College, Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Reader - Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Himachal Dental College, Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh, India.
PG student-1st year Department of Prosthodontics and crown & bridge, Himachal Dental College, Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh, India.
4
PG student-1st year Department of Prosthodontics and crown & bridge, Himachal Dental College, Sunder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh, India.
2

Abstract
The face and smile plays an important role in the maintenance of positive attitudes about ones self. Teeth play an important role in the maintenance
of positive self image. The loss of teeth results in significant disabilities, which can profoundly, disrupts social activities. Tooth Loss is very traumatic
and serious life event that requires social and psychological readjustment. The attitudes towards tooth loss are changing now days. The patients
are more aware about the dental treatment. Thus it is essential to evaluate awareness and preference of need before starting treatment as
treatment expectations may influence treatment modalities.A study was conducted among 250 edentulous and partially edentulous patients using
self supervised questionnaire containing questions regarding the knowledge towards artificial prosthesis among new patients at Department of
Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge at Himachal Dental College,Sundernagar. Results of this study shows that majority of subjects realized that
fixed prosthesis are esthetically more attractive than removable prosthesis and less annoying in the mouth. Most of the subjects were having lack of
awareness and knowledge about implants. Results regarding the preference of need of artificial prosthesis shows that male subjects are more
aware of mastication and phonetics as function of denture while female subjects prefers dentures for esthetics.

Key Words
knowledge, attitude, edentulism, replacement of teeth, patient education

Introduction
Teeth and their supporting structures are an integral part of the
facial skeleton. They support and interact sensitively with
other parts of the skull to provide a biological system to interact
for chewing, speaking and expressing emotions. The loss of
teeth, until very recently, was accepted as a normal and
inevitable part of ageing, and old age was endured sans teeth,
sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.[1] Perception of
edentulous state may range from feeling of inconvenience to
the feeling of severe handicapped, because many individuals
regard tooth loss equivalent to loss of a body part.[2] Tooth Loss
is very traumatic and serious life event that requires social and
pschycological readjustment.[3]
Loss of teeth can result in significant disabilities such as
mastication, phonetics and aesthetics. Edentulism limits the
intake of favourite foods. Poor oral health not only affects the
dietary intake but also compromises the nutritional status and
general health of the patients.[4]
Edentulism affects the speech and appearance of the well being
and few patients are not at ease and comfort to interact in the
society. Desire for an esthetics is a major motivating factor for
persons seeking new dentures,as society places considerable

Quick Response Code

Address For Correspondence:

Dr. Jasjit Kaur
Senior Lecturer,
Department of Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge
Himachal Dental College, Sunder Nagar, Himachal
Pradesh.
Mobile: 09418421528.
Email : drjasjitkaur@gmail.com

Journal of Dental Herald (April 2014, Issue:2, Vol.:1).

emphasis on physical appearance.[5] It has been suggested that

adverse reactions towards edentulism as well as the
individuals feeling about dentures are important for the
acceptance of the new dentures.[6]
Bjorn and Owell noted that missing teeth are replaced
primarily for social and esthetic reasons and that treatment
decisions cannot be based solely on professional factors.[7]
Perceived need for tooth replacement are based on esthetics,
social, functional and cultural factors.[8] According to data
gathered in previous studies, many patients find the six
anterior indispensable but will accept edentulous spaces in the
posterior regions of the mouth.[9] Several studies have reported
that patients underestimate their treatment needs.[10] However
there is not much evidence about awareness among edentulous
or partially edentulous subjects about impairment of oral
functions followed by tooth loss and preference of need
towards artificial prosthesis in literature. Therefore a study
was planned using questionnaire to evaluate awareness and
preference of needs towards artificial prosthesis in individuals
who have reported first time in the dental institute.
Aims and objectives:
The aims and objectives of the study were to conduct clinical
survey using questionnaire to assist awareness towards
artificial prosthesis and regarding preference of needs of
prosthesis among edentulous and partially edentulous
subjects.
Material and methods:
A study was conducted to determine patients awareness
towards artificial prosthesis and preference of need of
prosthesis. A pilot study was carried out on 10 patients to

017

Table.1 : Characteristic feature of the studied subjects regarding awareness and preference
of needs among dental patients towards artificial prosthesis.
Questionnaire

Knowledge of subjects

Male (112)

Female (138 )

Que 1 Do you think the lost teeth can be replaced by artificial means?
Yes

110 (98.21%)

105 (76.08%)

Que 2 Mention your preferable method of teeth replacement?

Removable Partial Denture
Fixed Partial Denture
Implants

++

46 (41.07)%

54 (39.13)%

+++

62 (55.35)%

80 (57.97)%

4 (3.57) %

4 (2.89%)

88 (78.57)%

136 (98.55)%

Que 3 Do you think lost teeth had affected their appearance?

Yes

Que 4 Do you think that lost teeth had affected their ability to chew food?
Yes

105 (93.75)%

95 ( 68.84)%

Que 5 Do you think that lost teeth had affected their ability to speak?
Yes

71 ( 63.39) %

60 (43.47)%

Que6 Do you think prosthesis need oral hygiene maintenance every day?
Yes

76 (67.85)%

75 (54.34) %

Que 7 Do you think prosthesis should be removed at night while sleeping?

Yes

54 (48.21) %

84 (60.86)%

check the feasibility of the study and validation of

questionnaire. Following the successful pilot study, main
study was conducted on 250 patients between ages 26 and 65
years reported first time to Department of Prosthodontics,
Himachal Dental College, Sundernagar.
Clinical examination was followed by questionnaire. A
questionnaire which sought patients awareness and
preference of needs of prosthesis was prepared. Questionnaire
consists of questions related to socio demographic factors and
awareness of patients regarding need of prosthesis.
Among these 250 subjects 80 were completely edentulous and
rest were partially edentulous. In completely edentulous
subjects 40 were female subjects and 40 were male subjects. In
partially edentulous cases 72 were male subjects and 98 were
female subjects. These subjects were informed of the nature of
study and they had given their consent for the study. The
questionnaire was completed personally for each patient who
gave consent to participate in the study in the form of interview
to allow them to express their ideas. Then the collected data
was analyzed.
Results:
As shown in Table no.1 among the 250 subjects surveyed,
68.0% were dentate and 32% were edentulous either in both
arches. 98.21% male and 76.08% female subjects were aware
that teeth can be replaced by artificial prosthesis. When
subjects were asked about the preferable methods of treatment
modality then 41.07% male and 39.13% female subjects
preferred removable prosthesis and 55.35% male and 57.97 %
female subjects preferred fixed prosthesis and 3.57%male and
2.89% female subjects preferred implant prosthesis.
When these subjects were asked about the preference of need
for treatment 78.57% male and 98.55% female agreed that lost
teeth had affected their appearance. On the other hand 93.75%
male and 68.84% female subjects realized that lost teeth had
affected their ability to chew food, 63.39% male and 43.47%
female subjects realized that lost teeth had affected their ability
Journal of Dental Herald (April 2014, Issue:2, Vol.:1).

to speak.
When subjects were asked about their awareness that
prosthesis need oral hygiene maintenance every day, 67.85%
male and 54.34% female subjects showed their awareness that
prosthesis needs oral hygiene maintenance every day. On the
other hand 48.21% male and 60.86 % female subjects were
having knowledge regarding removal of artificial prosthesis at
night.
Discussion:
The oral health being an integral part for the healthy living,
necessity of disability limitation and rehabilitation in oral
health has taken a paramount role[11]. Rising knowledge of
treatment modalities in the society paves way for its ready
acceptability. But for this a baseline data on their level of
awareness is required. Thus a study was conducted to assess
the patients awareness towards artificial prosthesis. This kind
of survey provides data on patients awareness level,
knowledge, acceptance, mind set towards an artificial
prosthesis which can be used to formulate patients education
and motivation strategies, treatment policies and guidelines for
treatment modalities in this region. From the present study it is
observed that subjects are aware that artificial prosthesis are
used to replace the missing teeth.
The present study gives information about subjects
knowledge towards artificial prosthesis and their needs. Most
of the subjects felt that the fixed prosthesis gives better feeling
in the mouth and appears natural. This result was similar to a
study conducted by Tepper et al and Zimmer et al[12], [13] that
fixed prosthesis is esthetically more attractive than removable
prosthesis and less annoying in the mouth.
As 41.07% male and 39.13 % female subjects felt removable
partial dentures are better means of replacing missing teeth.
These findings differ significantly from that reported by
Sulieman Al-Johany[14] and closely related to study done by
Kumar CR[15] where 37.64 % subjects chose removable
treatment as best treatment in replacing missing teeth. Most of
the patients were not interested in having removable prosthesis
as the treatment modality in replacing missing teeth, which
confirms the fact that most patients prefers fixed prosthesis
regardless of the situation they have. This result was in
accordance with study conducted by Tepper and Zimmer
etal.[12], [13]
This study showed that only 2.89% female and 3.57% male
subjects preferred implants as the treatment modality as they
were aware of implants. These findings differ significantly
from study conducted by Satpathy et al.[16] This shows their
lack of awareness and knowledge about implant. Majority of
questioned subjects were not aware about dental implants and
its advantages. They should be informed about implants by
conducting various public awareness campaigns, and
counselling centres should be established in patient outpatient
ward in Prosthodontic Departments of Dental College.
Data in this study regarding the preference of need of artificial
prosthesis shows that male subjects are more aware of
mastication as a function of denture, this is also evident in
study done by Szentpetry AG etal[17], they are less aware of the
018

esthetics. This study shows that female subjects are more

concerned with esthetics, this is in accordance with the result
of a study done by Davis DM et al 2000.[18] Osterberg et al [19]
reported that esthetics rather than functional factors
determined an individuals subjective need for replacement of
missing teeth which is in agreement with the finding of several
other studies.[20], [21], [22], [23] When subjects were asked about the
most preferable method of replacement.
More than half of the subjects knew that the dentures should be
cleaned everyday as they had probably heard from other
patients and their relatives who had undergone prosthetic
treatment. The findings of this study are comparable to study
conducted by Dikbas[24] et al who reported that dentures were
cleaned by the 70% of the patients.
A study conducted by Marcus et al[25] reported that one third of
the participants slept with both dentures and 12% slept with
only maxillary dentures in place. Dental education should be
encouraged to remove dentures before retiring at night, or for
several hours each day to allow relief of the underlying soft
tissues.
Limitations of the study
Majority of the patients were unskilled and educated only till
secondary level of education or less. Socioeconomic status is
major factor affecting the preference of artificial prosthesis
which has not been taken into account in this study. Age
distribution was chosen randomly.
Summary and conclusions
The present results may serve as a baseline for the future
evaluation of attitudes towards replacement of teeth. These
findings indicate that awareness needs to be created regarding
the other functions of the teeth like phonetics, mastication. So
awareness regarding prosthodontic treatment needs and their
usage should be increased among the local population through
oral health education programmes.
Apart from this, community based oral health education
programmes should be conducted to improve patients oral
health knowledge and these programmes can be organized by
the government and the dental profession. They could be
implemented with mass media as they are powerful and
influential forces in modern society.[1] For this television, radio
and printed media like newspaper and magazines could be
appropriate ways to disseminate oral health messages to
population.[26]
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Source of Support : Nill, Conflict of Interest : None declared

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