Challenges faced by edentulous patients (EDPs) during complete denture prostheses (CDP) service delivery in Fiji – a qualitative study

Abstract

Background Edentulism is a state of having no teeth in the oral cavity, an irreversible condition popularly known as the marker of disease burden on the oral health. For edentulous patients (EDPs) Complete Denture Prostheses (CDP) is a means to improve oral health. Due to limited studies in this area, this research aimed to explore the challenges faced by the EDPs during CDP service delivery in Fiji. Methods A directed descriptive qualitative study was conducted among EDPs attending Dental Prosthetic Clinics (DPCs) at the four centres in Fiji under purposive sampling. A semi-structured questionnaire with open ended questions was used for in-depth interview with EDPs who had worn CDP for 1 year via telephone. Participant responses were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed manually using thematic analysis. Results A total of 30 EDPs participated in the study. Six themes were identified as challenges faced by the EDPs during CDP service delivery in Fiji: lack of information, non-compliance, overwhelmed by illness, reduction on quality of life (QoL) financial barriers to CDP treatment care and personal acceptance. 77% of EDPs felt they did not receive adequate information on CDP when attending DPCs which indicated the non-compliance nature irrespective of using and cleaning CDP on a daily basis. The Dental Professionals (DPs) at the DPCs gave their full support in attending to the CDP challenges faced by the EDPs in Fiji during the review clinics. Conclusion The EDPs expressed a variety of challenges that was faced while seeking appropriate CDP services in Fiji. The findings demonstrate the need to explore approaches to develop patients’ engagement practices during CDP service delivery by the Dental professionals (DPs), which leads to effective oral health promotion in Fiji for CDP wearers.

Perception of Edentulous Patients and Dental Professionals towards Care and Maintenance of Complete Denture Prostheses

“…9 BioMed Research International Some EDPs had reported that they had very less to no knowledge on the CDP they had received from their dentists on how to clean and maintain their CDP as well. Similar sentiments were highlighted by Nand M. and Mohammadnezhad M., Berteretche, M. V. et al, and Sjogren, P. et al stating patients were not informed about CDP care and maintenance which led to lack of oral hygiene and poor perception of denture care in EDPs [21,35,36].…”

“…There has never been a prior study done on CDP where patients and DPs like the dentists and dental technicians' perceptions were studied. There are a few previous studies on complete denture wearers [ 17 , 19 , 20 ] that had been conducted where the complaints based on care and maintenance of dentures and challenges of EDPs were elaborated [ 21 ]. This limited availability of information for a country like Fiji warrants for further research to be undertaken in this area which is essential in the lives of both the EDPs and the DPs in terms of exploring the perception of the EDPs and DPs towards the extent of care and maintenance given to their CDP in Fiji.…”

“…To fill the knowledge gap that was identified and ignored in the society on edentulism, it was highly relevant to have open discussions with the EDPs and DPs regarding their perception which included their views, problems, and personal suggestions and recommendations of improvement in their CDP and its care and maintenance in Fiji [ 21 ]. This study aimed to explore the perception of the EDPs and DPs towards the care and maintenance given to their CDP in Fiji.…”

Exploring lived experiences on the usage of removable complete dentures among edentulous patients attending Makerere University Dental Hospital, Kampala, Uganda

“…It should be noted that wearing ill-tting or uncomfortable complete dentures can have undesirable effects on the denture-supporting tissues, hence the oral health of the patient [29][30]. Additionally, several studies have revealed different levels of experiences regarding the rehabilitation of edentulous patients which include the occurrence of blisters, di culty in closing the mouth and loose dentures, painful gums, food lodgment, and unstable mandibular complete dentures as well as loss of retention and mucosal irritation [31][32][33][34]. However, no published study has explored the lived experiences with RCDs among the Ugandan population.…”

Prevalence of Total Edentulism and Panoramic Radiographic Findings of Totally Edentulous Patients in a Dental School in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

“…Therefore, it affects both oral and general health [1,[7][8][9][10]. Although the prevalence of total edentulism has decreased over the last decade, data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and independent studies in 42 countries show that the prevalence of total edentulism is the lowest in Nigeria (1.3%) and the highest in Bosnia-Herzegovina (78%) among those aged >65 years [1,4,5,[11][12][13][14][15]. Few studies have examined the prevalence of total edentulism in Saudi Arabia.…”