Patient denture hygiene knowledge

There are several options available to patients who have lost teeth; these include dentures, implants and bridges. Removable partial dentures (RPDs) have the advantage of being able to replace several missing teeth in a cost-effective manner without the need for surgery and hence are a popular option for many patients. However, RPDs are far from perfect and numerous studies have linked RPD wear with increased plaque levels, periodontal disease, dental caries and denture stomatitis. In particular, those patients who wear their denture continuously, rather than only during the day, are much more likely to be affected.

Regular and effective denture hygiene is therefore a very important component of good overall oral health and it is essential that individuals with RPDs are provided with excellent denture hygiene advice by the dental team responsible for their care. Unfortunately, a previous study into complete denture wearers revealed that ‘most of the patients evaluated in the study had little knowledge on hygiene and care of complete dentures’. However, very little is known about patients wearing RPDs, which is the area of focus for this month's research summary.