Assessment of dental anxiety and its correlation with denture satisfaction in edentulous patients

Evaluation and comparison of patient satisfaction with VertexThermosens and conventional acrylic complete dentures

OBJECTIVES

Patient perception and satisfaction with dentures are important indicators in prosthodontic treatment. This study aimed to compare patients' satisfaction with VertexThermosens dentures versus conventional acrylic dentures during a 12-month study period.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This randomized study involved 60 participants aged between 45 and 80 with representation of both sexes. The patients were divided into two groups: The first group (experimental group), which had complete dentures from VertexThermosens base material included 30 participants. The second group (control group), which had complete dentures from convectional rigid acrylic base material, included 30 participants. Patient satisfaction with the dentures was assessed in each of the two Vertex/Acrylic groups through a specially created questionnaire of five questions with a five-point Likert scale of possible answers (0 = never; 1 = rarely; 2 = occasionally; 3 = often; and 4 = very often).

RESULTS

After 12 months, intergroup comparison with Mann-Whitney U Test related to Q2 (p = 0.193), Q3 (p = 0.960), Q4 (p = 0.317), Q5 (p = 1.000) patient satisfactions indicated that there was no significant difference between the two groups (Vertex/Acrylic), except  Q1 (p = 0.010) question, Vertex group was more satisfied. The results regarding the patients of both groups (Vertex/Acrylic) showed that after 12 months of wearing the denture, the satisfaction level regarding to all questions increased, except Q5-question for Vertex group, where the difference was not significant due to the already achieved maximum satisfaction at zero time.

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings of this clinical study, it can be concluded that higher satisfaction is seen in patients rehabilitated with VertexThermosens dentures than with conventional rigid acrylic dentures.

Association of Patient Anthropometric Measurements and Dental Implant Treatment

Background

Dental implants are currently one of the most preferred treatment modalities for replacing missing teeth, as they are the most comparable to natural teeth. Even so, satisfaction with such treatment may differ depending on patient nature. The aim of this article was to examine the relationships between different anthropometric measurements on dental implant patient's satisfaction.

Methods and Material

Self-administered questionnaire (structured questions) were given to patients who had dental implant treatment to evaluate their satisfaction level with dental-implant treatment. Different anthropometric measurements were taken: body height; weight; body mass index (BMI); body composition; waist/hip ratio; and circumferences at the waist, hip, and neck.

Results

The overall BMI was 28.9±4.7 kg/m², there was a highly-significant difference in patient satisfaction among the different BMI groups (P< 0.000). The significant difference in most of those groups was between the obese group and the other groups. For neck circumference and waist/hip ratio, a significance difference between the normal weight and obese groups (P< 0.000) was found, while for percentage of muscle, the differences were between the overweight and obese groups (P< 0.000). According to BMI groups a highly significant difference in many patient satisfaction domains were found (P< 0.000). These significant differences were between the obese group and non-obese groups for most aspects of patient satisfaction. For patient satisfaction with final appearance, the normal BMI group differed significantly from the overweight BMI group (P=0.013). Additionally, for patient satisfaction with dentist performance and communication, the overweight BMI group showed significantly higher satisfaction than the normal BMI group (P=0.019). Body measurements were correlated negatively with overall patient satisfaction, and positively with satisfaction with prosthesis.

Conclusion

The obese group patients had the lowest rate of patient satisfaction. BMI and other body measurements can be used to predict patient satisfaction with the outcome of dental implant treatment.

The influence of distinct techniques of local dental anesthesia in 9- to 12-year-old children: randomized clinical trial on pain and anxiety

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate pain, disruptive behavior, and anxiety in children undergoing different local dental anesthetic techniques.

METHODS

This randomized/parallel clinical trial analyzed three groups of patients (9-12 years old) (n = 35) who received infiltrative anesthesia using conventional (CA), vibrational (VBA), and computer-controlled techniques (CCLAD). The outcomes were pain self-perception (Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (WBF); Numerical Ranting Scale (NRS)), disruptive behavior (Face, Legg, Activity, Crying, Consolability Scale (FLACC)), anxiety (Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale; modified Venham Picture test (VPTm)), and physiological parameters (systolic (SBP)/diastolic pressure (DBP); heart rate (HR); oxygen saturation (SpO2); respiratory rate (RR)). Statistical analysis was accomplished using Kruskall-Wallis test and ANOVA for repeated measures (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

Dental anxiety levels at the baseline were similar for all patients. CA promoted less pain than VBA in WBF (p = 0.018) and NRS (p = 0.006) and CCLAD in WBF (p = 0.029). There were no differences in disruptive behavior (FLACC p = 0.573), anxiety (VPTm p = 0.474), blood pressure (SBP p = 0.954; DBP p = 0.899), heart rate (p = 0.726), oxygen saturation (p = 0.477), and respiratory rate (p = 0.930) between anesthetic techniques.

CONCLUSION

Conventional technique resulted in less pain perception for dental local anesthesia.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Conventional technique reduces the self-reported pain in children 9-12 years old, and therefore, the use of additional devices or different anesthetic techniques is not justified.

Impact of Anxiety on the Satisfaction of Dental Implant Patients

PURPOSE

To study the influence of anxiety on dental implant patient satisfaction, and to explore if hemoglobin levels and the amount of body fat affected patient satisfaction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred three partially edentulous patients (mean age 42.06 years) who had received dental implant therapy were enrolled in the study. Self-administered questionnaires were given to those patients to evaluate their level of satisfaction with implant treatment. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) self-reported questionnaire was used to determine anxiety levels. Hemoglobin levels (HB) were measured using an electronic hemoglobin meter, and body fat (BF) was measured using a special diagnostic scale. Statistical analysis was conducted using T-test to assess any significant differences between the groups. Pearson Correlation was used to measure the correlation between variables.

RESULTS

Overall satisfaction for all patients was high (86.7%) for both STAI-trait and STAI -state anxiety groups. Highly significant differences in patient satisfaction were found between high and low STAI-state anxiety groups (p < 0.01). Patients with low STAI-state anxiety levels demonstrated significant negative correlations of many parts of patient satisfaction with HB levels and STAI-state scores. While for patients in the low STAI-trait anxiety group, the negative correlation was just with HB levels. For the patients with high STAI-state anxiety levels, a highly significant positive correlation was observed between many elements of patient satisfaction and BF and patient age.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicated that patient satisfaction with dental implant treatment was high in all patients. STAI-state anxiety had a greater impact on patient satisfaction than did trait anxiety. HB levels negatively affected patient satisfaction in patients with low STAI-trait and STAI-state anxiety levels. BF positively affected patient satisfaction in patients with high STAI-state anxiety levels.

Correlation of patient's mental attitude with age, sex, and educational level: A survey

Objective:

The aim of this study was to determine any relationship, if exists, between the patient's mental attitude with age, sex, or educational qualification.

Methods:

A total of 200 patients who attended the outpatient department during a span of 1 year, for the fabrication of new complete dentures, were chosen for the study. After completing a routine case history and examination, a questionnaire was filled by the clinician as answered by the patient. Participants were evaluated and categorized based on the questionnaire and clinical experience during treatment according to a predefined classification of determining mental attitudes. Outcomes from the survey were correlated with participant gender, age, and educational status.

Results:

The male to female ratio was 83:117, out of the 200 enrolled participants. The results from the questionnaire showed that females were found to be more exacting (P = 0.007) in nature, while males, on the other hand, revealed more indifferent attitude (P = 0.02); both differences being statistically significant. Of the three age group categories: Participants in the age group of 45–54 years revealed a significant inclination toward an exacting attitude when compared with other age groups (P < 0.001). In regards to educational status, an illiterate or minimally educated group significantly outnumbered the college graduates in the indifferent attitude group (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Within the limitations of this study, it could be said that the mental attitudes of patients could vary according to gender, age, and educational status, which could affect patient cooperation and satisfaction with oral rehabilitation, eventually manipulating the overall success of the treatment rendered.

The usefulness of psychometric tests in dental treatment of patients aged above 65

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze the occurrence of some psychological disorders in elderly people in three different social settings and to evaluate the impact of those problems on the adaptation of denture wearers to removable prostheses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted in three social settings: the geriatric clinic of a university hospital, nursing homes and a Third Age University school (TAU). Each group consisted of 70 randomly selected individuals. Of the total number of 210 subjects, 183 persons wore maxillary removable dentures while 150 had mandibular prostheses. Some symptoms of psychological disorders were diagnosed on the basis of results provided by two tests: GHQ and GDS. For identification of an inter-relationship between the use of removable dentures and the psychic status, the difficulties in adaptation to removable dentures were evaluated.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis showed that the number of individuals with depressive symptoms was significantly lower in the group of TAU students than among the nursing home residents. No statistically significant difference in the occurrence of depression was found between the group of hospital patients and the students of TAU. A comparison of the GDS test results with the incidence of denture use difficulties indicated a significant inter-relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

The GHQ and GDS tests may prove useful in the prosthetic treatment of those removable denture wearers who complain of oral discomfort without manifesting any visible causes. The proportion of elderly with signs of psychic disorders is significantly lower among TAU students than nursing home residents and hospital patients.