A survey of the prosthetic status and post treatment satisfaction of patients among a South Indian population

Abstract

Aims: Assessment of prosthetic treatment needs is essential to determine oral health care needs in a systematic manner and to gather the information required to bring about change beneficial to the oral health of the population. Systematic assessment of treatment needs and patient satisfaction ensures that the available resources are optimally utilized to improve the oral health of the population. The objective of this survey was to assess the prosthetic status of patients visiting the Department of Prosthodontics of DAPMRV Dental College, Bengaluru, which was followed by the assessment of patient satisfaction 3 months after treatment. Furthermore, the influence of patient's gender, their mental attitude, and the type of prosthesis given on patient satisfaction was evaluated. Methods: A short interview was carried out with the selected patients to collect preliminary data. The socioeconomic status was recorded, following which an intra-oral examination was carried out to assess the prosthetic status and the type of prosthesis required by the patient. Patients were then given a questionnaire before the commencement of treatment to assess their mental attitude. The treatment decided on was completed for each patient. Patients' satisfaction with the treatment was assessed after 3 months using a questionnaire. Subsequent to the collection of data from the questionnaires, statistical analysis using the Chi-square test at a significance level of P < 0.05 was done to evaluate relationship between age, personality, mental attitude, and prosthetic treatment needs. Patient satisfaction was also assessed. Results: Statistically significant results were obtained on correlating the age and the treatment required, patients' mental attitude and the various treatment options. The relationship between the patients' gender, socioeconomic status, and mental attitude with their satisfaction was found to be noteworthy. Conclusion: The highest prosthetic treatment need was for complete dentures in both genders. Higher satisfaction levels were noted in individuals belonging to higher socioeconomic status and in males. No particular treatment modality had significantly higher or lower satisfaction scores.