The patient's and the therapist's evaluation of complete denture therapy

A total of 222 patients were studied. In a questionnaire patients graded th eir complete dentures of different age and quality, depending on the level of satisfaction, using the modified analogue-visual scale from 1 to 5. The dentist assessed the same dentures, as well as the denture bearing area. Th e patients' assessments were surprisingly high, the grades were bigger than the therapist's (p < 0.05), but in disappointed patients the grades were s maller than the therapist's (p < 0.05). It seems that the dentist is more c ritical in assessments than the patient. No significant difference existed between chewing and denture stability and between stability and the comfort of wearing lower full denture (p > 0.05). Unstable denture aggravates chew ing and causes pain and discomfort on the bearing area. It seems that subje ctive factors in patients, expectations of the denture or the number of pre vious dentures play a role in satisfaction, not only the quality of denture bearing area and the quality of a denture.