Patient satisfaction level and awareness of hygiene practices among patients with fixed dental prosthesis

Abstract

Introduction: There are several prosthetic alternatives for replacing missing teeth, including removable partial dentures, fixed partial dentures, and dental implants. Fixed Partial Dentures (FPDs) are a commonly utilized technique for prosthodontic rehabilitation. Prosthodontic treatments can range from restoring a single damaged tooth with a crown to replacing one or more missing teeth using either a conventional tooth-supported Fixed Partial Denture (FPD) or an implant- supported restoration. While it restores aesthetics and function, proper maintenance is equally important to ensure it works effectively over the long term.Aim: This survey aimed to evaluate the awareness of hygiene practices and the satisfaction levels among patients who received fixed dental prostheses in the Department of Prosthodontics, Crown and Bridge, at GDCH in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional clinical survey to evaluate patients' awareness of hygiene practices and their satisfaction levels with wearing FPDs/crowns was conducted among the patients visiting the Outpatient Department of Prosthodontics, GDCH, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.Results: In this study, 300 participants with FPD/crown were examined. Approximately 55.67% of the participants were female, and 44.33% were male. 87.67% of the participants reported brushing their teeth only once a day, while only 15.67% reported flossing their teeth. Around 40.67% of the patients experienced problems with food lodgement, and 42.67% of participants reported discomfort and pain after the cementation. The survey also revealed that 77% of the patients were not advised by their dentists on the maintenance protocols for the prosthesis.Conclusion: Considering the study's limitations, it can be concluded that the most frequent complaints from patients regarding fixed partial denture prostheses were food impaction and pain. Enhancing the long-term prognosis of the prosthesis necessitates cooperation between the dentist and the patients.