Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / Background: Most edentulous patients have expectations regarding complete dentures that are not only dependant on past experiences but also the information they received from others. These expectations may impact on the level of satisfaction the patient would have when receiving their complete dentures. When determining levels of satisfaction, factors such as comfort, speech, aesthetics, mastication, retention, fit / stability and occurrence of pain should be assessed. The dental student should be able to clinically apply theoretical knowledge to provide the patient with a stable and retentive denture that fulfils their expectations on function and aesthetics. Not much has been written regarding this link between patients' expectations and satisfaction with complete dentures at the University of the Western Cape, thus it warranted further investigation. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether patients' expectations influence their satisfaction with new complete dentures constructed by undergraduate dental students. Objectives:- 1. To determine the expectations of the edentulous patients prior to receiving new complete dentures. 2. To determine if patients’ expectations influences satisfaction with new complete dentures. 3. To investigate the influence of socio-demographic factors on patients' satisfaction wearing complete dentures. 4. To determine if the level of experience of the undergraduate student influences patient satisfaction. Methodology: This was an observational study using two questionnaires for data collection namely the Patient Expectation Questionnaire and the Oral Health Impact Profile- 20. Socio-demographic data was collected as part of the first questionnaire. Each participant was given an individual case number that corresponded on both questionnaires. This facilitated correlation between the expectations and satisfaction results of individual patients. Results: The age range for the majority of the patients was between 56-65 years. Females made up 72% of the sample with 85% of the sample of coloured ethnicity. Statistical analysis included reliability testing of the Patient Expectation Questionnaire and the Cronbach's Alpha of .773 was recorded, which indicates good reliability. Results following analysis of the Oral Health Impact Profile-20 showed high levels of satisfaction in most domains. The correlation between patients' expectations and satisfaction with new complete dentures was not proven using Pearson correlation. However, the comparison between the expectations questionnaire and Oral Health Impact Profile-20 frequency distribution showed positive results and most expectations of the patient were met or even exceeded for certain domains. Conclusion: Once analysis of both questionnaires was completed high levels of expectations were recorded and these expectations were met in most domains. Even though the statistical relationship between patient expectations and satisfaction was not proven, analysis of the questionnaires yielded positive results. No association was found between pre-treatment expectation and patient satisfaction with complete dentures. Some socio-demographic factors influenced patient satisfaction with complete dentures. High levels of patient satisfaction were recorded regardless of the clinical experience of the undergraduate dental student.

Métodos convencionais para a confecção de próteses totais envolvem uma série de procedimentos técnicos complexos. No entanto, métodos simplificados podem ser tão efetivos quanto os convencionais, porém com menor gasto de tempo e recursos, sem representar prejuízos aos usuários. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi comparar um método simplificado de confecção de próteses totais a outro convencional, tendo como variáveis a qualidade de vida associada à saúde bucal (QVSB), a satisfação dos pacientes e qualidade das próteses. A amostra foi formada por pacientes desdentados solicitando tratamento com próteses totais bimaxilares. Os participantes foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: Grupo S (n=19), que recebeu próteses confeccionadas por um método simplificado, e Grupo C (n=20), que recebeu próteses confeccionadas de forma convencional. Antes dos tratamentos e após 3 e 6 meses da instalação das próteses, a QVSB foi avaliada por meio do questionário OHIPEDENT e a satisfação dos usuários por meio de um questionário específico e escala visual analógica. A qualidade das próteses foi avaliada após 3 meses por um especialista. Os dois grupos foram comparados por meio de testes adequados à distribuição dos dados (α=5%). A QVSB e qualidade das próteses foram similares nos grupos C e S. Não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto à satisfação geral avaliada pelos dois questionários. Diferenças em relação à satisfação dos usuários com aspectos específicos das próteses só ocorreram na avaliação dos 3 meses, não persistindo na segunda avaliação. Conclui-se que métodos simplificados são capazes de produzir próteses totais de qualidade comparável às geradas por métodos convencionais, influenciando a QVSB e a satisfação de seus usuários de forma similar. / Complete denture fabrication involves a series of complex technical procedures. Nevertheless, simplified methods may be as effective as conventional ones albeit the lesser use of time and resources, without disadvantage to the denture wearer. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare a simplified method for complete denture fabrication to a conventional protocol in a randomized controlled trial in terms of oral health quality of life (OHRQoL), patient satisfaction and denture quality. A sample was created by edentulous patients requesting treatment with maxillary and mandibular complete dentures. Participants were randomly allocated into two study groups. Group S (n=19), which received dentures fabricated by a simplified method, and Group C (n=20), which received conventionally fabricated dentures. Before the interventions and after 3 and 6 months following insertion, OHRQoL was evaluated by means of OHIP-EDENT questionnaire and patient satisfaction was analyzed by a visual analogue scale and a specific questionnaire. Denture quality was assessed 3 months after delivery by a prosthodontist. Groups were compared by means of statistical tests suitable for the distribution of data (α=5%). Groups presented no difference for OHRQoL, denture quality and patient general satisfaction. Differences regarding to patient satisfaction with specific aspects of the dentures were found after 3 months, but were insignificant at 6 months. It was concluded that the simplified method is able to produce complete dentures of a quality comparable to those produced by the conventional protocol, influencing the OHQoL and satisfaction of their wearers similarly

Métodos convencionais para a confecção de próteses totais envolvem uma série de procedimentos técnicos complexos. No entanto, métodos simplificados podem ser tão efetivos quanto os convencionais, porém com menor gasto de tempo e recursos, sem representar prejuízos aos usuários. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi comparar um método simplificado de confecção de próteses totais a outro convencional, tendo como variáveis a qualidade de vida associada à saúde bucal (QVSB), a satisfação dos pacientes e qualidade das próteses. A amostra foi formada por pacientes desdentados solicitando tratamento com próteses totais bimaxilares. Os participantes foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: Grupo S (n=19), que recebeu próteses confeccionadas por um método simplificado, e Grupo C (n=20), que recebeu próteses confeccionadas de forma convencional. Antes dos tratamentos e após 3 e 6 meses da instalação das próteses, a QVSB foi avaliada por meio do questionário OHIPEDENT e a satisfação dos usuários por meio de um questionário específico e escala visual analógica. A qualidade das próteses foi avaliada após 3 meses por um especialista. Os dois grupos foram comparados por meio de testes adequados à distribuição dos dados (α=5%). A QVSB e qualidade das próteses foram similares nos grupos C e S. Não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto à satisfação geral avaliada pelos dois questionários. Diferenças em relação à satisfação dos usuários com aspectos específicos das próteses só ocorreram na avaliação dos 3 meses, não persistindo na segunda avaliação. Conclui-se que métodos simplificados são capazes de produzir próteses totais de qualidade comparável às geradas por métodos convencionais, influenciando a QVSB e a satisfação de seus usuários de forma similar. / Complete denture fabrication involves a series of complex technical procedures. Nevertheless, simplified methods may be as effective as conventional ones albeit the lesser use of time and resources, without disadvantage to the denture wearer. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare a simplified method for complete denture fabrication to a conventional protocol in a randomized controlled trial in terms of oral health quality of life (OHRQoL), patient satisfaction and denture quality. A sample was created by edentulous patients requesting treatment with maxillary and mandibular complete dentures. Participants were randomly allocated into two study groups. Group S (n=19), which received dentures fabricated by a simplified method, and Group C (n=20), which received conventionally fabricated dentures. Before the interventions and after 3 and 6 months following insertion, OHRQoL was evaluated by means of OHIP-EDENT questionnaire and patient satisfaction was analyzed by a visual analogue scale and a specific questionnaire. Denture quality was assessed 3 months after delivery by a prosthodontist. Groups were compared by means of statistical tests suitable for the distribution of data (α=5%). Groups presented no difference for OHRQoL, denture quality and patient general satisfaction. Differences regarding to patient satisfaction with specific aspects of the dentures were found after 3 months, but were insignificant at 6 months. It was concluded that the simplified method is able to produce complete dentures of a quality comparable to those produced by the conventional protocol, influencing the OHQoL and satisfaction of their wearers similarly