Prothodontic-Treatment Awareness among Elderly Patients Attending Dental Clinics in Dar-Es-Salaam

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate awareness of prosthodontic treatment among the elderly patients attending dental clinics in Dar es Salaam. METHODS: A cross-sectional study that included various government dental clinics; namely Muhimbili National Hospital, Amana, Temeke, Mwananyamala, and Magomeni Hospitals; and Sinza Health Centre in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Structured questionnaires were used to interview patients aged 50 years and above attending at the respective Dental Clinics. The information on demographical data, causes of tooth loss, need for replacement of lost tooth and desired effect of rehabilitating oral structures was gathered, coded and processed using the SPSS statistical package. Comparative analysis was done using chi-square test and testing was done to 0.05 level of significance. RESULTS: Of the 186 subjects 51.1% were females and 49.0% were males. Age distribution range was from 50-70 years and 11.3% were aged 50 and 56 years. Majority of the study group had primary school education (51.1%). It was found that 83.3% of subjects were aware that lost teeth can be rehabilitated. It was also founded that frequent consumption of sugary food, biting hard objects, severe gum diseases and injuries to the teeth tooth can cause tooth loss by 95.2%, 87.1%. 98.4% and 95.2% respectively. Altogether 93.5% were aware that replacement of lost teeth produces desired appearance, 72.6% that replacement of lost teeth\tooth restores the speech and sound production, and only 29.0% were aware that replacement of tooth\teeth improves chewing ability as well as choice of variety of food. CONCLUSIONS: Majority of the elderly patients were not aware about prosthodontic treatment. Moreover majority of subjects were also not aware that replacement of lost teeth improves chewing ability as well as choice of variety of food.