Asian Journal of Dental Sciences

Introduction: Tooth loss affects speech, eating, social wellbeing as well as the quality of life of an individual. Determining the subjective effect of prosthetic treatments makes it possible to identify the needs of patients with dentures and also evaluate their prosthetic adaptability. The objective of our study was to evaluate the quality of life and the satisfaction of patients wearing dental prostheses in the city of Ngaoundéré.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in dental departments of some hospitals in the city of Ngaoundéré. The study population consisted of all consented patients who had been wearing dentures for at least one week. Data collection was carried out through a dental consultation using a pre-established consultation form to evaluate the oral health quality of life of participants the using OHIP 20 questionnaire and a secondly a questionnaire whichwas used to evaluate  their degree of satisfaction with the wearing of  dentures. This was followed by clinical evaluation to evaluate their treatment needs.

Results: A total of 100 patients with dentures made up of51% males were recruited in the study. The 41-50 and 51-60 years age groups were the most represented with a rate of 21%.A third 38(38%) of our population were workers in the formal sector, and 52(52%) were married. The DMFT index of our population was 8.9.Only 16(16%) of the patients had a fixed prosthesis with 42(42%) in the (esthetic zone) anterior section. More than half 53(53%) of the patients recorded a score higher than 95 on the OHIP scale, synonymous with a very good oral quality of life. More than two thirds 77(77%) of patients were generally satisfied with their prosthesis while 86% were dissatisfied with the cost.

Conclusion: Though the quality of oral life and satisfaction of edentulous patients with prostheses was good poverty and lack of insurance were factors affecting patients prosthetic rehabilitation. There was statically significant relationship between gender and quality of life but the type of prosthesis and duration of prosthesis did not have any statically significant relationship.

A re-evaluation of the cost of prosthetic treatments would improve their condition, by favoring their access to new prosthetic rehabilitation techniques such as implantology.