An investigation of factors influencing patients' use of new complete dentures using structural equation modelling techniques.

UNLABELLED: A review of the literature demonstrated that research had not identified a set of prognostic indicators for prospective complete denture patients, with different authors publishing contradictory results.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate possible relationships between patient and clinical factors and denture wear and use of dentures for eating.
METHODS: Patients attending Guy's Dental Hospital, London, for provision of complete dentures were recruited. For each patient relevant history was recorded and an examination of the edentulous mouth and existing dentures, where present, was undertaken at the beginning of treatment. At the first post-insertion appointment the edentulous mouth, previous and new dentures were examined. Three months after the review appointment patients were sent a postal questionnaire to assess patient use of dentures and patient satisfaction. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling techniques.
RESULTS: 723 patients were recruited. Significant relationships were found between quality of complete dentures and patients' use of complete dentures and between quality of residual edentulous ridges and patients' use of complete dentures. These results contrast with most previous research into prognostic indicators for success in complete denture treatments.
CONCLUSIONS: Quality of residual edentulous ridges and quality of new complete dentures predict patients' use of new complete dentures.