Perception and attitudes of dentists regarding the complications of conventional acrylic dentures and overdentures supported by teeth or implants.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the perception of dentists on the complications associated with prosthodontic treatments with acrylic dentures and overdentures in partially or complete edentulous patients. The study analyzed the complications of acrylic dentures and overdentures using a questionnaire with 24 open or closed questions, with single or multiple answers. The participants were 63 dentists, mostly women (77.8%), aged between 30 and 39 years old (52.4%), more than half of them with a clinical experience of less than 15 years. The main complications encountered were: lesions of the oral mucosa (52.4%), lack of maintenance (44.4%) or stability of dentures (39.7%), fracture of acrylic bases (14.3%), and detachment of attachment systems (44.4%). The complete maxillary acrylic dentures fractured most often (38.1%), frequently on the midline (58.7%), the main causes being accidental fall, masticatory stress, or lack of stability of the dentures. The most common intervention to correct the complications of dentures was the repair of fractured acrylic bases (33.3%). The study exposed that dentists are aware of the possible complications of acrylic dentures, which they correlate with the peculiarities of oral structures, but also with some deficiencies of prosthodontic restorations, materials and technologies. Maxillary acrylic dentures, overdentures, and partial acrylic dentures have a high risk and fracture rate, but the use of new technologies and materials can reduce the complications rate of acrylic dentures and overdentures.