EVALUATION OF CLINICAL AWARENESS OF LOOSENESS OF A NEWLY FABRICATED COMPLETE DENTURE AND ITS MANAGEMENT AMONG DENTAL STUDENTS IN A DENTAL COLLEGE OF IMPHAL (NORTH- EAST): A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Introduction: For the patient’s dissatisfaction with the prosthesis, dentist must realize that a patient’s judgment of the treatment outcome is what defines prosthodontic success. All patient’s need is to have a denture which is firm and stable during function. An ill-fitting denture not only brings frustration to the patients but to the dentists as well. So all probable reasons for the looseness of complete denture should be evaluated by the dentist and hence every possible attempt should be made by the dentist to correct it.

Aims and Obectives: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of looseness of newly fabricated complete denture and its management among dental students of third year, final year and internship, studying in an undergraduate dental college, in the Imphal city of Manipur. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between the complete knowledge of complete denture fabrication and their practical implementation in the complete denture fabricational procedure.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire involving the dental students of 3^rd, 4^th year and the students doing internship in the Department of Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge at RIMS, Dental college. Total of 150 students participated in the study. Participants were distributed in three groups having 50 students each from 3^rd year, 4^th year, and students doing internship. All the  participants signed an informed consent before filling the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics included computation of frequencies and percentages. Nonparametric test, namely, chi-square test, was used for further data analysis; p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant and vice versa.

Results:. Among all 150 participants who were subjected to self-administered questionnaire, seventy eight (78) subjects (52%) reported that looseness was because of improper secondary impression. Eight (08) subjects (05.33% ) reported that looseness was because of under extension of the green stick compound for peripheral tracing. Three (03) subjects (02%) reported that looseness was because of the overextension of the flanges in peripheral tracing or border moulding. Fifty eight (58) subjects (38.66%) reported that looseness of the newly fabricated complete denture was because of improper posterior palatal seal area record. Three (03) subject (2%) reported that they were unaware of the reasons for the looseness of newly fabricated complete denture.

Conclusion: The majority of the students of dental college have limited knowledge of the exact reason for the looseness of newly fabricated complete denture on the day of denture delivery. Students faced problem in its management in dental clinics. The looseness of a newly fabricated complete denture was because of the overextensions of the denture flanges as evaluated by Prosthodontist. Students of dental college should be made aware for the all the probable reasons for looseness of a newly fabricated complete denture. In 90% of the cases it is seen that overextension of the flanges is the most probable reason for an ill fitting, newly fabricated complete denture.

Keywords: Complete Denture, Ill fitting denture, Peripheral tracing, Denture Flanges, Secondary Impression, Posterior Palatal Seal.