User satisfaction with complete dentures made by the public network of a city in southern Santa Catarina

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess user satisfaction with complete dentures made and delivered in 2010 by the public health care network of a city in the south of Santa Catarina. METHODS: This cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study used the Oral Health Impact Profile - 14 questionnaire to collect data. The questionnaire contains 14 questions on functional limitation, psychological discomfort, physical disability, psychological disability, social disability, physical pain, and disability. The survey was done in a city in the south of Santa Catarina. The participants were chosen randomly and kept anonymous. The sample consisted of 247 complete dentures made by the public health network of the city in 2010 for patients aged more than 50 years. RESULTS: Based on the social and psychological questions, the upper complete denture have a small effect on the patient's quality of life, while the lower complete denture causes stress, self-consciousness, physical pain, and mastication problems. Therefore, the most severe problems were caused by lower complete dentures. CONCLUSION: Denture follow-up protocols should be created to minimize the damages they cause to patients' health and to reduce treatment loss.