SATISFACTION WITH COMPLETE IMMEDIATE DENTURES AND COMPLETE IMMEDIATE OVERDENTURES - A 1 YEAR SURVEY

The aim of this study was to evaluate denture satisfaction over a 1 ye ar period after extraction of the last teeth. Seventy-four patients wh o required immediate denture therapy in the mandible were randomly tre ated, (1) with complete immediate dentures (22); (2) with immediate ov erdentures on two lower canines without attachments (26); or (3) with immediate overdentures on two lower canines provided with Dyna(R) dire ct magnetic attachments, inserted on the abutments 9 months after trea tment (26). Denture satisfaction was estimated by means of questionnai res, filled out by each patient at certain periods, starting before tr eatment and ending 1 year after denture insertion. After 1 year approx imately 85% of the patients in the three groups were satisfied with th eir dentures, had got used to them and could eat well. This phenomenon was constant over the whole first year period. No differences in dent ure satisfaction were found between the three groups. It can be conclu ded that although patients who receive immediate complete dentures mig ht experience a lot of discomfort during the first year of edentulousn ess, they are satisfied, in general with their dentures independent of the treatment procedure.