ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Complaints with complete dentures is a common and expected phenomenon. However the type and character of complaint varies between population and is influenced by the socio economic condition, prevalent dental awareness etc. This study attempts to find the most common complaints with complete dentures, their causes and also presents a classification of the same. METHOD: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted by performing a survey on a sample of population over an 18 month period utilizing a customized questionnaire. The complaints were divided into four categories viz. discomfort, retention, esthetics and miscellaneous. Consequently each denture was evaluated for structural and functional defects. The findings were classified into error in denture base, physiopsychological, error in occlusion and teeth selection. The data was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Error in denture base was the predominant cause of complaints. However physiopsychological and error in occlusion and teeth selection were also important second factors in certain groups of complaints. Highest number of complaints (23.07%) belongs to discomfort in mandibular posterior region. While the least number of complaints are concerned with speech as reported by both males and females (both at 2.02%). CONCLUSION: Discomfort with complete dentures was the largest complaint reported followed by loss of retention with esthetics and miscellaneous complaints. Discomfort in mandibular posterior region was the most frequent complaint reported while speech related complaints were least in number. Most common cause of complaints was error in denture base.
