Abstract
Background: The dilemma of patient satisfaction vs. non-satisfaction with dentures is another never-ending debate in dentistry. The fabrication of optimal dentures is possible with appropriate prosthetic laboratory techniques along with patients' anatomic and physiologic requirements assessed by a dentist. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patient's priority and mean satisfaction scores of the patient and dentist during complete denture therapy. Material and methods: After selecting the subjects based on decided inclusion and exclusion criteria, the patients were asked to fill the proforma with VAS. The proforma contained a questionnaire divided into 3 parts which need to be filled by both the patients and the dentist, independently. The patients rated their dentures using a scale ranging from 1-5 (5=very satisfied; 4=satisfied; 3=neither satisfied, nor dissatisfied; 2=dissatisfied; 1=very dissatisfied), and a dentist rated the quality of the denture and the denture-bearing area. Results: According to the patient's priority the majority of the patients preferred mastication (47%). The highest mean dentist satisfaction score was concerned with the extension of a denture (0.97 +/- 0.28). There was no statistically significant difference with age and gender for mean denture assessment, aesthetic, phonetics, mastication and comfort satisfaction score (p>0.05). However, the employed patients have aesthetic, phonetics and mastication satisfaction score higher than unemployed patients and the relationship was statistically significant (p<0.05). The educated patients have mean phonetics satisfaction score higher as compared to uneducated patients and the relationship was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: Majority of the patients was concerned with better chewing function with their dentures. Age and gender do not affect patient satisfaction. However, employed patients were less satisfied with their dentures as compare to unemployed patients. In addition, patients who were educated had better phonetics with their dentures as compare to uneducated patients. Strong dentist-patient communication is necessary to be able to satisfy a patient.