Changes in dental attitude and behavior among Dutch adults wearing complete dentures

In 1992 a follow-up on the Dutch National Dental Survey of 1986 (DNDS) was performed. The main objective was to detect and analyze changes in oral self care, dental attendance, and oral health status. This paper will focus on the DNDS adults wearing complete dentures. Changes over a 6-yr period will be presented of: dental attendance, denture satisfaction and wearing of the complete dentures, and denture treatments. A postal questionnaire was used: 232 persons (64%) participated in the study. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to study the effect of dental and social variables on observed changes since 1986. Risk ratios (RR) were computed to clarify the actual effects of these variables. With respect to dental attendance, a shift towards visits for denture check-ups was found, thought to reflect the respondents' concern for their complete dentures (RR = 1.6). A small shift towards more visits because of denture problems was found. This was attributed to denture treatments that had taken place between 1986 and 1992 (RR = 2.8). With respect to changes in denture satisfaction, no influence of denture treatments could be noted, but a relation was found with a variable indicating the imperfection of the complete dentures as felt by the respondents (RR = 2.8). In 31% of the respondents some denture treatment had been performed since 1986. No objective dental criteria of complete dentures and denture bearing areas had influenced these denture treatment decisions, but only respondents' subjective criteria (RR = 1.9-2.9).