Relative importance of psychologic factors in denture satisfaction.

The aim of this investigation was to explore the relative importance of psychologic variables in explaining the degree of denture satisfaction in full denture patients. A group of 125 patients who were on a waiting list to have new dentures constructed participated in this study. The patients completed the Dutch version of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist, the Dutch Personality Inventory, a denture satisfaction questionnaire and a denture complaint questionnaire. No relation was found between the personality variables and denture satisfaction as measured by the denture satisfaction questionnaire. When the different aspects of denture satisfaction were measured by means of complaint scales, satisfaction was related to personality traits. Functional complaints of the mandibular denture and complaints about a hollow face were related to the personality trait "extraversion-introversion". Vague denture complaints and complaints about a bulbous face were related to "neuroticism".

Assessment of dental anxiety in edentulous subjects.

In this investigation an anxiety scale was constructed to measure dental anxiety in full denture patients. Furthermore, the relationship of this anxiety scale with denture history, denture satisfaction, and personality traits was investigated. A group of 125 patients who were on a waiting list to have new dentures constructed participated in this study. The coefficient alpha value of the anxiety scale was 0.81. Significant correlations were found with number of years with complete dentures (r = -0.20), with denture complaints (r = 0.18-0.19) and with some personality traits (r = 0.21-0.32). Further research into the role of dental anxiety with respect to dental behaviour and dental satisfaction in edentulous populations seems useful.

[Dental anxiety in edentulous patients]. / Angst voor de tandarts bij tandelozen.

In this investigation 113 patients with full upper and lower dentures filled in a dental anxiety questionnaire, developed from Corah's dental anxiety scale for edentulous subjects. Relations of this anxiety questionnaire with denture satisfaction, age and sex of the patient and with number of years of edentulousness were found.

[Decision making analysis and the diagnosis of approximal caries]. / Besliskunde. Cariës behandelen? Röntgenfoto's maken?

A decision tree approach to dental caries diagnosis has been described, using information obtained from the literature on caries prevalence and on the accuracy of dentists when using a mirror and probe or bitewing radiographs for diagnosing doubtful approximal carious lesions. In this example, three different diagnostic pathways are compared with the pathway 'no dental examination'. The expected value of clinical information was calculated for the three pathways as were the predictive values, positive and negative, for the various test combinations. In a sensitivity analysis the caries prevalence and diagnostic accuracy were varied for the above calculations within realistic levels. Extrapolations from the results indicated that the procedure 'probe and look' is counter productive at low caries prevalence, since, for all pathways, diagnosing 'sound' surfaces as having dentine caries becomes an increasing problem. This decision making approach highlights the fact that more information on the diagnostic process is needed before recommendations about changing diagnostic criteria, pathways or techniques are made. In particular the diagnostic accuracy of dentists using radiographs and especially the weighting they put on different diagnostic outcomes should be investigated.

Assessment of denture satisfaction.

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the reliability and validity of a complaints questionnaire, designed to measure different aspects of denture satisfaction. Two groups of patients with full maxillary and mandibular dentures participated in the study. The patients in Group 1 (n = 113) were on a waiting list for new dentures, patients in Group 2 (n = 102) had recently had new dentures fitted. Five denture complaint scales were constructed from the questionnaire. The internal consistency (coefficient alpha) of the scales varied from 0.65 to 0.92. Furthermore, the scales showed a discriminatory ability between the patient groups (P less than or equal to 0.001) and significant Pearson correlation coefficients with satisfaction-related questions (r = 0.25-0.79). The scores on the scales can be considered a quantitative measure of denture satisfaction.

Role of psychologic and social variables in TMJ pain dysfunction syndrome (PDS) symptoms.

The aim of this study was to measure the relative importance of a number of psychologic and social variables in explaining the severity of symptoms of functional disturbances of the stomatognathic system. 261 non-care seeking patients with respect to pain and dysfunction of the stomatognathic system were examined. The total sample consisted of two subgroups: Group 1 (n = 130) with a complete natural dentition and Group 2 (n = 131) wearing complete maxillary and mandibular dentures. Symptoms of functional disturbances of the stomatognathic system were assessed using two questionnaires. One was derived from the Anamnestic Dysfunction Index and the other was an extended questionnaire which included accessory symptoms frequently mentioned in the literature. The patients also completed the Hopkins Symptom Checklist, the Dutch Personality Inventory, and a Dutch form of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. In both patient subgroups symptoms of functional disturbances of the stomatognathic system were significantly correlated with patient's sex and a complex of highly intercorrelated psychologic variables: psychoneurotic- and somatic symptoms, neuroticism, negativism, and somatization.

Relative importance of psychologic and social variables in TMJ pain dysfunction syndrome (PDS) signs.

The aim of this study was to measure the relative importance of a number of psychologic and social variables in explaining the severity of signs of functional disturbances of the stomatognathic system. A group of 261 non care seeking patients with respect to pain and dysfunction of the stomatognathic system were examined. The total sample consisted of two subgroups: Group one (n = 130) with a complete natural dentition and Group two (n = 131) wearing complete maxillary and mandibular dentures. Signs of functional disturbances of the stomatognathic system were assessed using the Clinical Dysfunction Index and a Palpation Test. The patients also completed the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist, the Dutch Personality Inventory and a Dutch form of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Patient education, age and sex were also registered. In both patient subgroups signs of functional disturbances of the stomatognathic system were significantly correlated with patient's sex and a complex of highly intercorrelated psychologic variables: psychoneurotic and somatic symptoms, neuroticism and somatization.