The relationship between various parameters of complete denture quality and patients' satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Patients' appreciation of their conventional complete dentures might be affected by the quality of the dentures. METHODS: A random sample of 33 edentulous patients who were rehabilitated by means of conventional complete dentures participated in the study. Three independent investigators who underwent technique calibration evaluated the dentures on the basis of seven clinical criteria by using a validated examination form. The patients filled out a validated denture satisfaction scale. The author used Pearson product-moment correlation and analysis of covariance to identify possible correlations. RESULTS: The study results showed that most patients were between "reasonably satisfied" and "very satisfied" with their dentures. The author found nominally higher satisfaction among those receiving both mandibular and maxillary dentures and significant positive correlations between the overall denture satisfaction score and the stability of the mandibular denture (P = .039) and retention of the mandibular denture (P = .005). In contrast, esthetic lip support and lower lip line, occlusion, and maxillary stability and retention were not correlated with participants' overall satisfaction level (P > .064). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that a clinically stable mandibular denture was the most important determinant of patients' satisfaction. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The study findings highlight the most important denture quality parameters that can aid clinicians in meeting their patients' expectations.