ÜLKÜ TUĞBA KALYONCUOĞLU, ÖZLEM SARAÇ ATAGÜN
Northwestern Medical Journal - 2023;3(3):156-164
INTRODUCTION: Appropriate denture hygiene promotes the oral health of removable denture wearer elderly patients. This study was conducted to evaluate denture hygiene habits and awareness of the removable denture wearer geriatric population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out by questionnaires which were conducted on 202 volunteered geriatric removable denture wearers at prosthodontics and periodontology clinics. The questionnaires included demographic and denture hygiene habits and awareness information. The collected data were imported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences and the chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to evaluate categorical variables represented as a percentage of study participants. Results: The results of the study reveal that most geriatric patients are aware of effective denture hygiene, but lack correct information. Brushing with soap was the most frequent cleaning method (47.5%). Cleaning only with water and a toothbrush was mostly seen in male participants, while the use of brush and soap, brush and toothpaste and effervescent tablet was mostly seen in female participants (p<0.05). Where information about denture cleaning obtained from, differed statistically significantly according to age groups, while the 65-74 age group received more information from the internet and TV, while the 85+ age group received more information from the family and pharmacy (p<0.05). 104 (51.5%) patients did not take off their dentures at night. The frequency of cleaning dentures and using cleansing tablet was significantly higher in females than in males (p<0.05). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Dentists must pay attention to removable denture wearer geriatric patients’ oral hygiene motivations. Geriatricians, pharmacists, and other related health workers, who are frequently and directly related to the geriatric population, and those who care for these patients (family members, nurses) should also play an active role in guiding patients to care about prosthesis cleaning and oral hygiene.
