ABSTRACT
The objective of this study is to determine the factors responsible for noncompliance in pursuing preprosthetic surgery and baseline oral surgery confidence amongst patients reporting to Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar. This cross sectional analytical study was carried out at the Department of Prosthodontics at Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar. Informed consent was taken from the patients participating in the study. A custom made proforma was made to note demographic variables for comparison with the Litt's Oral Surgery Confidence Questionaire [OSCQ], the type of preprosthetic surgery required and factors influencing noncompliance with the said procedure namely increased treatment duration, local and systemic morbidity, associated expenses, failure of surgery and myths heard or believed. Scoring of the OSCQ was done from 0-9 on 11 items and total score calculated. T-test was used to determine significance of gender and level of education with OSCQ score [p-value <0.05]. One way ANOVA was utilized to determine significance of age and required procedure with OSCQ score [p-value <0.05]. 105 patients comprised the study sample with a M:F ratio of 1:1.05. The mean age of the sample was 58.06 +/- 11.22 years. Illiterate patients accounted for 82.9%. Alveoloplasty was the most commonly prescribed procedure [56.2%]. Local and systemic morbidity was the most common factor leading to noncompliance in undergoing preprosthetic surgery [29.5%]. The mean OSCQ score was 46.61 +/- 11.91. Gender and level of education were found to have a significant relationship with OSCQ scores [[p-value <0.05] whereas age and procedure required did not show the same with OSCQ scores [p-value >0.05]. Illiteracy was the predominant educational state amongst the sample and alveoloplasty was the most commonly prescribed procedure alone and also in combination with other procedures. Moderate confidence level was noted in undergoing oral preprosthetic surgery. Gender and educational levels showed a significant relationship with OSCQ scores and these are the areas that should be focussed on to improve compliance in pursuing pre-prosthetic surgery which in turn can improve satisfaction with the use of complete dentures