Context: The dental needs of elderly are changing and growing. Prosthetic rehabilitation can positively impact the quality of life of an elderly edentulous patient.
Aims: 1) Estimate denture needs by analysing number of edentulous patients requiring dentures and the factors depriving them for the complete denture rehabilitation. 2) Analyse the quality of dentures and relate it to their satisfaction with prosthetic rehabilitation.
Materials & Methods: This study was conducted on 847 patients over a period of 10 months. The sample size was divided into the edentulous patients deprived of dentures and the denture user groups. Each groups were examined clinically and interviewed with a separate close ended, prevalidated multiple choice questionnaire. The questionnaires were available in English as well as Hindi to promote better understanding.
Statistical Analysis: Discrete (categorical) datas were summarized in frequency and compared by using chi-square (\(\chi^{2}\)) test, with P< 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: 1) 68% of the sample were deprived of removable complete denture and 53% denture wearer were unsatisfied with their existing denture. 2)Significant association between gender and distance of dental facility from residence of patients. 3) Difficulty in eating was the prime reason for complete denture requirement (38.55%).4) (38.89%) patients, wearing denture needs relining or rebasing.
Conclusion: Strategies are to be planned by health care providers to make oral health care and denture treatment available to this unprivileged section of the society.
