Elderly patient's knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding care and maintenance of the removable prosthesis: a...

Regular care and efficient hygiene procedures play a major role in the maintenance of oral health and long-term success of removable prosthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and behavior of the elderly patients towards care and maintenance of their removable prosthesis.

One-hundred and forty elderly patients, who visited the Department of Prosthodontics and Dental Surgery, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, India for dental treatment were recruited into this study and completed a single interviewer-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included information on gender, age, socioeconomic status, medical status, length of use of the prosthesis, cleaning material and technique, etc.

It was revealed that the lack of knowledge and awareness of importance of the denture hygiene; poor socioeconomic and compromised medical status of the patients, created barriers to regular and preventive dental care of denture wearers. The oral hygiene and care practices were found to be disappointing and the knowledge about the denture's duration of use, dietary limitations, maintenance, storage methods and follow-up visits was found to be limited.

The results of this study indicate that patients' knowledge, attitudes and behavior about the importance of the dental prosthesis need to be improved. Coordinated efforts by prosthodontists, community dentists and other health professionals are required to impart dental health education about oral prosthesis hygiene, care habits, importance of the regular recalls and to promote preventive dental programmes.