Year: 2024 | Month: September | Volume: 14 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 37-44
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20240905
Attitude of Dental Professionals Toward Cast Partial Denture: A Questionnaire Survey in Gujarat
Dr Rupal J Shah1, Dr Sanjay B Lagdive2, Dr M Gokul3, Dr Ekta Chheda4, Dr Ritika Patel5, Dr Parveen Sheikh6
1,2,3.4,5,6Department of Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge, Government Dental College and Hospitals, Ahmedabad, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr M Gokul
ABSTRACT
Aims: The use of cast partial dentures has almost diminished in recent years, and their importance in the teaching curriculum has reduced. This descriptive survey assesses the attitudes of dental professionals in Gujarat regarding use of CPDs in private practice.
Materials and methods: This survey includes ten close–ended questions concerning the use of CPD by dental practitioners practicing mostly in Gujarat. The URLs of the questionnaires were shared via every source of media (e-mail, WhatsApp, Instagram, messages) to dentists practicing in Gujarat, to obtain a response of 376 which is a predetermined size
Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was performed using counts and percentages, and the results were further evaluated with the repeated measures ANOVA.
Results: Nearly 33.9% general practitioners, 22.7% prosthodontists and 43.5% other specialist dentists responded to the questionnaire. General practitioners mostly preferred Fixed partial dentures (FPDs) (40.2%) and implants (44.1%) equally, whereas prosthodontists preferred mostly implant (61.1%). General practitioners mostly preferred cast partial dentures (40.2%) and acrylic dentures (34.6%) almost equally, whereas prosthodontists preferred CPDs (76.4%). Almost 44.1% of the general practitioners raised difficulty in chewing with CPDs and 58.8% of the prosthodontists raised a cost issue. Nearly 58.1% of the dentists said that implant-supported restorations are better options compared to CPDs; still, majority of the dentists (56.3%) were in favor that more importance for CPDs in graduation curriculum should be given.
Conclusions: This survey shows that in Gujarat a significant proportion of general practitioners preferred FPDs (40.2%) and implants (44.1%) because of sufficient awareness with the patients these days and when they choose removable partial dentures, they had gone for acrylic partial denture (34.6%) and cast partial denture (40.2%) equally and find adjustment as a major problem within that. Prosthodontists mostly preferred implants because they are more confident and better trained in their use. It is recommended that greater emphasis be placed on teaching implants alongside CPDs in the graduation curriculum. This will enable practitioners to better educate their patients about the advantages of implants, the disadvantages of flexible dentures, and the appropriate utilization of implants in cases where patients are not willing to opt for CPDs.
Key words: Attitude, Gujarat, Cast partial denture, Flexible, Dental implants, specialists.