Trends, awareness, and attitudes of patients towards replacement of missing teeth at University College of Dentistry

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out among the out patients seen in the University College of Dentistry [UCD] with the aim to assess their trends and attitudes towards tooth replacement. Patients with at least one missing tooth [excluding the third molars] were included. The study was conducted using a questionnaire. Majority of the patients [n=180] did not have previous experience of any sort of prosthesis. Although most of the patients preferred to have fixed partial denture [n=195] some of them responded that they would be comfortable with removable partial denture [n=33]. Low felt need was the most common reason among this study group for delay in seeking dental replacement, while 5% patients were in the post extraction healing period. Dentists were found to be the most important d riving force for patient awareness regarding replacement of teeth. Majority of the patients agreed that dental visits should be regular. Some patients [8.8%] did not appreciate the importance of restoring teeth while 62.5% of the patients had the perception that artificial teeth were not equivalent to natural teeth