KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS AND ATTITUDES OF PATIENTS TOWARDS REPLACEMENT OF MISSING TEETH

Abstract

Smile is a window into one’s personality  and play a significant part in the maintenance of a healthy personality and an affirmative self-image. Tooth loss is psychologically a very traumatizing and upsetting experience, and is considered to be a serious event in the life of a person, requiring significant psychological readjustments. Patients may suffer real and perceived detrimental effects following the loss of one or more teeth which substantially reduce the quality of life affecting the patient emotionally, socially, physically and psychologically.The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, awareness and attitude of patient’s towards the replacement of missing teeth.The study was conducted using a questionnaire. It was evaluated 100 patients of both gender.  The questionnaire included questions of demographic data, questions to assess facial and dental aesthetics, dental satisfaction and treatments considering patients notion to improve dental esthetics. The data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics.Patients with at least one missing tooth (excluding the third molars) were included. The study was conducted using a questionnaire. Majority of the patients (36%) did not have previous experience of any sort of prosthesis. Although most of the patients preferred to have fixed partial denture (40%) some of them responded that they would be comfortable with removable partial denture (24%). 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 driving force for patient awareness regarding replacement of teeth. Majority of the patients agreed that dental visits should be regular. Some patients (25%)  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.In order to enlighten the negative effects of missing teeth on oral health, the importance of different types of media cannot be overlooked. It is therefore recommended that communication program be strengthened at district and local levels to stimulate the development of awareness toward the indications and contraindications of the options available for replacement of missing teeth, which can satisfy esthetic and functional needs along with improving the perception of patients regarding their dentition.