Profile of Edentulous Patients Seeking Prosthetic Treatment – Preliminary Report

Objective: To assess the profile of edentulous patients requiring prosthetic treatment at the Tygerberg Oral Health Centre. Methods: A custom-designed prosthetic examination sheet was used to collect patient data. The data included: demographic details, the main complaint(s), health status, radiographic details, habits, oral mucosa, tongue, bony prominences, alveolar ridge resorption pattern, temporomandibular joint, denture material, artificial teeth, arch shape, tooth position, jaw relationship, denture occlusion, stability and retention, diagnosis and treatment plan, aftercare procedures. This preliminary study analysed the main complaints and its associations with the patients’ gender, age and denture age, using frequency tables and cross-tabulations with Chi-Square Tests. Results: The sample comprised of 13 men and 38 women, with an age range from 33 to 87 years. 78% wore dentures previously, with a mean denture age of 14 ½ years. The most common main complaints were inability to chew and poor appearance. No statistically significant differences were found between the prevalence of the main complaints and gender, age and denture age (p>0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitation of the low number of patients examined, this preliminary study showed that demographic characteristics and denture history do not predict the type of complete denture complaints.