Practices and Perceptions of Moroccan Dentists Regarding Flexible Removable Dentures: A Cross-Sectional Study in the...

Background and aim Flexible removable dentures are increasingly used in partial prosthetic rehabilitation because of their aesthetic appeal and mechanical flexibility. However, their limitations should be considered carefully, and their use should be restricted to selected clinical situations. This study aimed to assess the clinical practices and perceptions of Moroccan private-sector dentists in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region regarding the indications, advantages, disadvantages, and clinical use of flexible removable dentures, as well as the association between their use and participants' demographic and professional characteristics. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study used an anonymous online questionnaire developed in Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA) and administered between November 2023 and February 2024 to licensed private-sector dentists practicing in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region. Qualitative variables were expressed as counts and percentages (n (%)). Associations between the use of flexible removable dentures and participants' demographic and professional characteristics were analyzed using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 101 private-sector dentists participated in the study. Flexible removable dentures were used in clinical practice by 86 (85.1%) participants, and 82 (98.8%) clinicians used them mainly for partial edentulism. 48 (55.2%) practitioners considered flexible dentures suitable as definitive prostheses. In cases of extensive partial edentulism, 61 (62.2%) participants preferred metal-based removable partial dentures combined with acrylic resin. Valplast (Valplast International Corp., Westbury, NY, USA) was the most commonly used material by 56 (67.5%) participants, and 68 (71.6%) practitioners reported favorable satisfaction with flexible dentures. Conclusions Flexible removable dentures appear to be widely used among Moroccan private-sector dentists, particularly for the management of partial edentulism and aesthetically demanding situations. However, their use remains less favored in extensive edentulous cases. These findings highlight the need for greater emphasis in undergraduate and continuing dental education regarding the indications, limitations, and appropriate clinical application of flexible removable dentures.