EVALUATION OF THE BEHAVIOURS AND HYGIENE HABITS OF COMPLETE DENTURE WEARERS IN THE EASTERN NEPAL

This study aims to evaluate the hygiene methods and habits concerning the use of complete dentures, the age of dentures and whether
the patient has been instructed properly by the operating dentist on how to clean their dentures by using a specific questionnaire as a
research tool. A total of 200 patients were randomly selected from the patients who visited the department of Prosthodontics, BPKIHS
and were asked to complete a questionnaire which was the Nepalese translation of that used by Peracini et al. The results indicated
that out of total two hundred patients, ninety six (48 %) were females of age range 32 to 86 years and one hundred and four (52%)
were male patients of age range 35 to 89 years. The mean duration of edentulism of upper arch was 6.39 years (SD- 6.079) for male
patients whereas for female patients it was 4.65 years (SD- 4.978). Similarly the mean duration of edentulism in lower arch for male
patients was 6.12 years (SD- 6.004) and for female patients 4.35 years (SD- 4.942). Majority of the patients (34.5%) cleaned their
dentures with water alone and 30% of the patients used combination of toothbrush, toothpaste and water. 47 patients (23.5%) used
soap and water only without the use of toothbrush. 153 patients out of total 200 (76.5%) received the instructions about cleaning the
denture from their dentist and 47 patients (23.5%) said they did not receive such instructions. The hygiene practise needs improvement
through patient education and awareness and instructions in this regard by the treating dentist can be useful.