Oral condition, treatment needs and demands of geriatric “Denture Wearers” in three different Jordanian communities

الملخص EN

Objective: To study basic clinical findings, treatment needs and demands in a three communities’ population of a geriatric “Denture Wearers”, aged 65 years or over on attendance for follow up at the prosthetic clinic in three different main referral military hospitals in the three main territories in Jordan.

Methods: A random sample of 2409 subjects from three different communities who attended the prosthetic clinic at three different military hospitals in Jordan were selected on the basis of their age (≥ 65 years) who has been wearing complete dentures for more than 6 months period.

The assessment of oral and general status was based on questionnaire adopted from criteria used in the WHO Manual 1997, detailed history, medical records and intraoral examination.

Dentures were evaluated for retention, stability, occlusion, soft and hard deposits and any obvious damage; and oral mucosa was examined for the presence of any pathological change.

Results: Among subjects studied, the condition of the complete dentures worn by many of the patients was unsatisfactory and about (36.2%) needed denture replacement.

High proportion (39.7%) of the subjects had lesions of the oral mucosa.

Denture needs for male and female elderly was significantly different (P <0.05) and it was almost twice in rural geriatrics (69.5%) when compared with urban geriatrics (31.6%).

Both location and age group were highly significant correlated with denture needs.

(47%) complain from loose denture and this was increased with age.

(39.1%) complained of oral pain and (13.6%) claimed to have difficulty in chewing.

Also, (25%) of the subjects were mainly embarrassed by being wearing removable prostheses, while (13.5%) were embarrassed by their dentures dropping during social contact.

More than (37%) of the dentures showed hard and/or soft deposits.

About (25.7%) of the “denture patients” were not satisfied with their denture and wished an adjustment or a new one.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that among geriatric “Denture Wearers” living in three different Jordanian communities, prevalence of oral lesion, treatment needs and patients’ demands is relatively high.

It reinforces the notion that continuous provision of preventive and educational strategies essential.