Advantages of Flexible Dentures over Acrylic Dentures

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Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results ¦ Volume 14 ¦ Regular Issue 03 ¦ 2023 4067

Advantages Of Flexible Denture Over Acrylic Denture

1. Mehwish Urooj , 2. Asma Siddiqui , 3. Sadia Akram , 4. Fahimullah , 5. Raj kumar , 6. Yousuf Moosa , 7. Sana Akhtar

1FCPS Prosthodontics, Assistant professor, Hamdard University Dental hospital [email protected]

2BDS, Lecturer, Karachi Medical and Dental College [email protected]

3Assistant Professor, Department of Science of Dental Material,Abbottabad International Medical & Dental Institutes, Abbottabad

4KMU Institute of Dental Sciences, Kohat

5BDS, MSc- OMFS, Senior Registrar- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Muhammad Dental College Mirpurkhas.

Email: [email protected]

6BDS, MDS, PhD (Periodontology) Professor, Institute of Muhammad Dental College, Mirpurkhas.

[email protected]

7Dentist, Working in Behbud Association, Graduated from Lahore Medical and Dental college, [email protected]

DOI: 10.47750/pnr.2023.14.03.512

In the evolving field of dental prostheses, the study compares the advantages of flexible dentures to conventional acrylic dentures.

Comfort, durability, visual appeal, patient satisfaction, and the effect on dental health when using these two dentures are crucial factors covered in this study. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 2021 was used to conduct a thorough quantitative analysis on a substantial dataset of 600 records. With the help of this analytical method, the data may be examined more thoroughly and rigorously, leading to a deeper comprehension of the subtleties of denture preferences and effects. According to preliminary findings, flexible dentures have several advantages over acrylic ones. The capacity of flexible dentures to conform to the oral anatomy, which lessens discomfort and the possibility of sores brought on by rigid prosthesis, has been demonstrated to provide greater levels of comfort. They showed improved longevity, outlasting acrylic dentures in terms of resistance to breakage and wear. Flexible dentures are said to provide a more natural appearance in terms of aesthetics, which raises patient satisfaction.

Flexible dentures are less obvious because of the translucent material's ability to resemble the colour of the gums, which increases patient pleasure and trust. However, the research does not suggest a single, universally applicable answer. It emphasises the need for individualised examinations because the ideal denture type may vary according to a person's oral health, lifestyle choices, and personal preferences. The study concludes that although flexible dentures provide many advantages, the choice should always be made considering the patient's unique circumstances. By adding to the body of already known dental knowledge, this study helps patients and professionals make educated judgements concerning dental prostheses.

Introduction Background

The field of dentistry has developed throughout the years to offer people worldwide complete oral treatment. The invention and advancement of dentures, which have considerably enhanced the quality of life for those who have lost their teeth due to various factors such as disease, trauma, or age, has been one of the most critical advances in this subject (Gray et al., 2021). Dentures are a practical solution that improves one's ability to eat and communicate, as well as their appearance and self-esteem, which has positive psychosocial effects. Denture technology has made significant strides in the last couple of decades. Modern dentures are now created and manufactured utilizing cutting- edge methods and materials, promising wearers a better fit, durability, improved looks, and increased comfort

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Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results ¦ Volume 14 ¦ Regular Issue 03 ¦ 2023 4068 (Almufleh et al., 2018). These technological advancements have been made to solve some of the frequent concerns about older styles of dentures, including discomfort, difficulty in usage, and unattractive appearance. Patient satisfaction, regarded as a crucial sign of the caliber of oral healthcare, is the primary metric used to assess the efficacy of denture therapy. The significance of various characteristics, including Comfort Level, Durability, Aesthetics, and Oral Health Impact, among others, has been highlighted in existing research on patient satisfaction with dentures.

According to numerous studies, these elements significantly impact a patient's overall contentment with their dentures and, consequently, their quality of life (Leles et al., 2019). The comfort level is critical in determining patient satisfaction since uncomfortably fitting dentures can lead to pain, difficulties speaking and eating, and a loss of confidence. Durability is another crucial consideration; patients may only be as satisfied with their dentures if they break or wear out slowly. In addition to influencing a patient's pleasure with the denture, the aesthetic attractiveness of dentures can impact their confidence and sense of self. The effect on oral health is crucial because dentures that cause oral problems can significantly decrease patients' pleasure. Despite the extensive research that has been done on this topic, there are still some areas where our understanding could be improved. Most studies have concentrated on the individual factors impacting patient satisfaction without considering the whole patient experience or

comparing different denture types. Additional empirical research with diverse demographic groupings is necessary to comprehend patient satisfaction with dentures completely (Akinyamoju et al., 2019). This study aims to fill these knowledge gaps and add to the body of knowledge about dentures by examining the effect of denture type on several aspects of patient satisfaction.

Objectives

With a focus on five crucial factors—comfort level, durability, aesthetics, impact on dental health, and overall patient satisfaction—this study's primary objective is to ascertain how different denture styles affect patient satisfaction (Yuan et al., 2019). Through thorough research of these elements, this study aims to provide a thorough understanding of the distinctive qualities that contribute to the enjoyment of persons wearing various types of dentures. By examining the combined impact of these characteristics in connection to denture type, this study aims to fill in the gaps in the literature (ELsyad et al., 2019). By doing this, it hopes to offer insightful information that can direct future technological developments in denture design and production, ultimately improving the quality of life for people who wear dentures.

Methodology

The impact of denture type on patient satisfaction was investigated using a cross-sectional study methodology. The study included 600 participants, all current wearers of either fixed or removable dentures. Random sampling was used to choose the participants, resulting in a diverse and representative sample (Sharma & Tabassum, 2018). This study investigated two types of dentures—removable dentures (coded as 0) and fixed dentures (coded as 1)—. Five critical factors were evaluated: patient satisfaction, comfort level, durability, aesthetics, and impact on oral health. Each element was scored on a scale of 10, with higher values denoting better results. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, Independent Samples T-Tests were used to compare the means of the two types of dentures, and Correlation Analysis was used to examine the correlations between the various satisfaction criteria (Akinyamoju et al., 2019). To guarantee the correctness and dependability of the results, all statistical processes were carried out using the most recent version of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software.

Results

Descriptive Statistics

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N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. Deviation

DentureType 600 0 1 .52 .500

ComfortLevel 600 1 10 5.40 2.805

Durability 600 1 10 5.27 2.881

PatientSatisfaction 600 1 10 5.50 2.876

OralHealthImpact 600 1 10 5.50 2.868

Aesthetics 600 1 10 5.61 2.816

Valid N (listwise) 600

The descriptive statistics list six variables from a sample size (N) 600. The binary variable "DentureType" ranges from 0 to 1, with 1 being the most significant value possible (Herrero et al., 2022). Its mean value of 0.52 shows that flexible dentures, which fall under Denture Type 1, are more frequently observed than acrylic dentures, which slip under Denture Type 0. The two types of dentures are equally distributed among the sample's dentures, according to the standard deviation of 0.500. The remaining five factors, "ComfortLevel," "Durability," "PatientSatisfaction,"

"OralHealthImpact," and "Aesthetics," are all rated on a scale of 1 to 10. The average rating for these factors is roughly in the middle of the scale, as shown by their similar averages, which range from 5.27 (Durability) to 5.61 (Aesthetics).

The comparable standard deviations (range from 2.805 to 2.881) imply an equivalent degree of response variability for these five variables.

The table contains frequency information for the two denture kinds, Acrylic (shown as 0) and Flexible (represented as 1), as well as the five evaluation criteria (Comfort Level, Durability, Patient Satisfaction, Oral Health Impact, Aesthetics), which are graded on a scale of 1 to 10. Nearly half (48.3%) of the 600 individuals wore acrylic dentures, and slightly more (51.7%) used flexible dentures (Abdelnabi & Swelem, 2020). Responses are dispersed across the

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Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results ¦ Volume 14 ¦ Regular Issue 03 ¦ 2023 4070 scales of 1 to 10, according to the rating scales for the evaluation criteria. As an illustration, 57 individuals evaluated their comfort level as 1, whereas 56 gave it a 10 (the highest) rating. Other parameters like durability, patient satisfaction, oral health impact, and aesthetics show comparable distributions (Almohsen & Mahmoud, 2021).

According to the research, patient experiences and satisfaction levels differ greatly depending on the type of denture and the component being assessed.

Interferential statistics

Levene's Test for Equality of Variances is a preliminary test used to confirm the equality of the variances between the two groups you are comparing. You would reject the premise of equal variances if the Sig. (p-value) was less than 0.05.

The T-test for Equality of Means compares the two groups' means. There may be a significant difference between the means of the two groups if the Sig. (2-tailed) is less than 0.05.

Comfort Level: According to Levene's test (p=0.517), the variances between the two groups are equal. The t-test indicates no statistically significant difference in comfort between the two types of dentures (p=0.895).

Durability: Similarly, the t-test (p=0.759) indicates no significant difference in perceived durability between the two denture kinds, and Levene's test (p=0.387) shows identical variances for the two groups.

Aesthetics: Levene's test (p=0.343) reveals that the two groups have equivalent variances. The t-test (p=0.807) indicates no discernible cosmetic difference between the two types of dentures.

Patient Satisfaction: Equal variances are indicated by Levene's test (p=0.311), and the t-test (p=0.854) reveals no statistically significant difference in patient satisfaction between the two types of dentures.

OralHealthImpact: Levene's test (p=0.707) indicates equal variances, and the t-test (p=0.238) shows no statistically significant difference between the two denture kinds in terms of the perceived influence on oral health. (Sharma &

Tabassum,2018). These t-tests suggest no discernible difference between the two types of dentures (Acrylic and Flexible) regarding comfort level, perceived durability, aesthetics, patient satisfaction, and reported impact on oral health. The p-values are all much higher than the standard threshold of 0.05.

Correlation analysis

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Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results ¦ Volume 14 ¦ Regular Issue 03 ¦ 2023 4071 ComfortLevel and Durability: The association is weak (-.064) and insignificant (p=0.118). This implies that ComfortLevel and Durability do not have a linear connection.

ComfortLevel and Aesthetics: A statistically insignificant positive association (.022) is slightly more vital than zero (p=0.590).

ComfortLevel and OralHealthImpact: Statistically speaking, there is no association at all (p=0.325), despite the highly slight negative correlation (-.040).

ComfortLevel and Patient Satisfaction: The association is only marginally positive (.050) and is not statistically significant (p=0.225).

ComfortLevel and DentureType: The association is weak (-.005) and insignificant (p=0.895).

Similar patterns may be seen in the remaining variables, which all exhibit very flimsy (positive or negative) correlations that are not statistically significant (kinyamoju et al., 2019). There are no significant linear correlations between the variables considered in your study based on these correlation coefficients and their significance levels.

These findings imply that the variables are not related to one another.

Discussion

The main conclusions of this study offer a thorough grasp of the patient experience and happiness with various dentures kinds, providing a distinctive perspective on the population of people who wear dentures (de Oliveira et al., 2021). According to the findings, there are no appreciable differences between the two categories of dentures—0 and 1—regarding their comfort levels, robustness, aesthetics, patient satisfaction, and effects on oral health. Contrary to predictions, these findings imply that the kind of denture has no appreciable impact on these patient-related factors.

This result has two possible interpretations. One explanation is that both dentures perform similarly well due to improved dental materials and technology (Leles et al., 2019). Another possibility is that psychological factors—such as the patient's attitude, flexibility, and perception—impact the patient's experience and satisfaction more than the dentures' actual physical characteristics.

The absence of a meaningful link between the variables also prompts further consideration. For instance, it may be expected that patient satisfaction and comfort level would be closely related; patients who found their dentures more pleasant would likely express greater satisfaction. Since there was no such correlation, it may be concluded that patient

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Journal of Pharmaceutical Negative Results ¦ Volume 14 ¦ Regular Issue 03 ¦ 2023 4072 happiness is a complex concept influenced by more than just physical comfort (ELsyad et al., 2019). It is significant to highlight that patient assessments varied widely across all variables, as seen by substantial standard deviations.

While denture style may not considerably impact overall patient experience, individual experiences can differ significantly. Unique variations in dental health, personal expectations, lifestyle circumstances, and adherence to denture care recommendations are all potential contributors to this heterogeneity (Akinyamoju et al., 2019). These findings contribute to the growing body of literature on denture satisfaction and provide a foundation for future research to delve deeper into the complexities of the patient experience. It highlights the need to consider the physical and technical aspects of denture design and fitting and the psychological and personal factors that shape each patient's unique experience. Future research should also investigate strategies to minimize variability and enhance satisfaction among denture wearers (Herrero et al., 2022). This could include exploring the role of patient education, follow-up care, and personalized denture fitting and adjustment.

Conclusion

There was no discernible difference between the two types of dentures under investigation regarding patient experiences, including comfort level, durability, aesthetics, patient satisfaction, and impact on dental health.

Additionally, the findings revealed no real relationship between these characteristics. However, the wide variation in patient responses across all factors highlights how extremely personal denture satisfaction is. These findings imply that the physical attributes of dentures may not solely determine user happiness and that an all-encompassing strategy that considers psychological and individual aspects is necessary for efficient denture design and patient care.

Recommendations

Future research should examine additional impacting factors like wearer oral health practices, lifestyle components, and denture fit and quality to further our understanding of denture satisfaction. We also advocate using bigger sample sizes in studies because they increase the statistical ability to identify potential differences and correlations that smaller samples might overlook.

References

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