Psychological Distress in Complete Denture Patients

Objective: Dental treatment is stressful life event, creating many psychological problems. Denture wearing is an unpleasant and difficult process to adapt. Therefore, denture wearing may cause anxiety and depression. This study aimed to examine levels of anxiety and depression and gender differences among patients who had different types of dental prosthesis experiences. In addition, the present study focuses on patients' perceptions about teeth loss and perceived benefits of wearing prosthesis. Methods: The sample consisted of 158 adult dental prosthesis patients. Thirty had no prior dental prosthesis experience, whereas 128 of them had a prior removable partial or complete denture. Socio-demographic and medical questions, perceived social support questions form and the following self-report questionnaires were administered. State Scale of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Burdens of Teeth Lost Questionnaire, a scale tapping burden due to teeth lost, and Expected Benefits of Denture Questionnaire, a scale tapping expected benefits of new dental prosthesis, both developed for the present study were administered. Result: The results revealed that the patients' had mild to moderate depression and moderate state anxiety symptoms. The mean State Anxiety Score was significantly higher among females (M = 41.86, SD= 10.61) as compared to males (M= 36.35, SD = 10.39). The mean Beck Depression Inventory score was higher among females (M= 14.97, SD= 7.46) as compared to males (M= 10.48, SD= 7.90). Denture wearers perceived considerable burden related to loss of teeth however, their expected benefits was higher than burden. Conclusion: The present study revealed that dental prosthesis patients especially females, experience anxiety and depression. Denture patients was experience burden due to teeth loss but they also perceived benefit from new denture. Therefore, dentists' should offer support to their patients especially females, and psychological factors related to dental treatment needs to be incorporated into the educational curriculum of dentists.