Normative and subjective need and utilization of complete denture services

Area of Science:

• Oral Health
• Dental Public Health
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Complete denture treatment addresses edentulism, a condition affecting a significant portion of the population.
• Understanding the gap between the need for and utilization of complete denture services is crucial for public health planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the estimated need for complete denture treatment with the actual utilization of these dental services.
• To identify demographic factors influencing the utilization of complete denture services.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Mini-Finland Survey (n=3620) to assess the need for complete denture treatment among edentulous individuals.
• Collected data on service utilization via questionnaires sent to dentists and special dental technicians.

Main Results:

• Complete denture service utilization was 21.8% of the professionally assessed need and 17.7% of the subjectively assessed need.
• Utilization varied by demographics, being highest among young women and lowest among men aged 60-69 years, relative to subjective need.
• Subjective need for complete dentures increased with age.

Conclusions:

• A notable disparity exists between the need for and utilization of complete denture services.
• Barriers to accessing care prevent many individuals from obtaining necessary complete dentures.
• Reducing these barriers could increase the uptake of complete denture services, improving oral health outcomes.