Knowledge on clinical assessment methods for using phonetics in removable prostheses among dentists in Riyadh, Saudi...

Area of Science:

• Dental Science
• Speech Pathology
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Phonetics is vital for speech quality in dental prostheses.
• Understanding factors influencing speech intelligibility is crucial for patient development.
• Assessing dental professionals' knowledge of phonetics is necessary for effective prostheses fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the knowledge and clinical assessment techniques of dental students and clinicians in Riyadh regarding phonetics in prostheses fabrication.
• To identify disparities in phonetic knowledge and clinical skills based on experience level.
• To inform strategies for improving the clinical application of phonetic principles in dentistry.

Main Methods:

• A survey questionnaire with 20 questions was distributed to 1300 dental students and clinicians.
• A response rate of 93.3% (1213 responses) was achieved.
• The questionnaire assessed knowledge of phonetics in removable denture construction and speech evaluation techniques.

Main Results:

• Dentists with over five years of experience showed better knowledge of phonetic clinical assessment methods.
• 5th-year dental students scored the lowest in phonetic knowledge and clinical assessment.
• A significant portion of participants (51%) had less than one year of experience, indicating a need for practical training.

Conclusions:

• Clinical experience significantly correlates with improved phonetic assessment skills in dentistry.
• There is a disconnect between theoretical phonetic knowledge taught in dental curricula and its practical application.
• A standardized checklist is proposed to enhance clinical application, improve denture quality, and increase patient satisfaction.