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J West Bengal Univ Health Sci | Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | October 2023 24
Journal of The West Bengal University of Health Sciences October 2023 Vol 4 Issue 2
Original Article
Evaluation of the Prosthodontic needs and their
availability in Urban and Semi-urban population in and
around the city of Kolkata.
Dr. Bidhan Chandra Mandal1, Dr. Md. Rabiul Islam2,
Dr. Kritika Rajan3, Dr. Ishan Roy Choudhury4, Dr. Nabarun
Chakraborty5, Dr. Soumen Roy Chowdhury6
ABSTRACT
Aim : To assess the prosthodontic needs and the availability of these needs by an average
Indian population above 15 years of age in urban and semi-urban population in and around
the city of Kolkata.
Introduction : In India, prosthodontic services are available, but the awareness among the
common people regarding the availability, necessity and value of prosthodontic restoration,
complications and health problems arising from the lack of Prosthodontic service facilities;in
semi-urban areas in and around the city of Kolkata, as a part of the government dental
health care program, prevailing socio-economic condition, urban bias as evidenced in the
distribution of dental population may be some of the underlying reasons. Therefore, it is
important to assess the pattern of distribution of the prosthodontic needs of the population
as well as the availability of prosthodontic services in relation to age, sex, education, religion,
income, occupation and locality.Such assessment guides us in implementing the necessary
prosthodontic health education programs and services. This study would also serve as a
base line study for future references and further study.
Materials and Methods : This study was conducted on a total of1000 subjects from within
the area of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Remaining samples were randomly collected
from the semi-urban area, for example – Rajarhat, Barrackpore, Hooghly, South DumDum,
Baruipur Municipalities.Samples were collected for this study from each and every cross
section of the Urban and Semi-urban population. Subjects were rst interviewed with
the help of printed questionnaire form framed with closed answers followed by a clinical
1-5 Associate Professor, Department of
Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge, Dr. R.
Ahmed Dental College and Hospital.
6 Department of Pedodontics Dr. R.Ahmed Dental
College and Hospital.
email: kritikarajan91@gmail.com
Citation: Mandal BC, Islam Md. R, Rajan K, Roy Choudhury
I, Chakraborty N, Roy Chowdhury S. Evaluation of the
Prosthodontic needs and their availability in Urban and
Semi-urban population in and around the city of Kolkata.
J West Bengal Univ Health Sci. 2023; 4(2): 24-38.
Kritika Rajan et al 25
J West Bengal Univ Health Sci | Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | October 2023
Introduction
The masticatory system, comprising of the
temporomandibular joint, the jaw, the tooth,
the periodontium and the neuromuscular
mechanism, is a major functional unit of the
human body. It is primarily responsible for
chewing, speaking and swallowing, besides
enhancing the aesthetics and overall
personality of the subject. Components
of the masticatory system also play a
major role in perception of taste and in
breathing.1The interactions of these closely
related components are affected by changes
in the oral environment when natural teeth
are replaced by articial ones.
The responsibility of mastication
falls directly on the natural teeth and
their supporting tissues. Teeth can only
function properly if they are adequately
supported. The support is provided by the
Periodontium, an organ comprised of soft
and hard connective tissues. It attaches the
teeth to the bone of the jaws.
It has been noted that loss of teeth
leads to diminished masticatory efciency.
examination, post-consent using a mouth mirror, an explorer and torch. Edentulousness,
occurrence and type of prosthesis in the mouth, if any, was noted.
Results and Discussion : All the data collected was tabulated and subjected to
statistical analysis. Majority of the partially edentulous subjects had their posterior teeth
missing.60.90% of the total subjects were aware of dental prosthesis while 39.10% unaware
of the same irrespective of their dwelling areas.Subjects with a low level of illiteracy were
found to be signicantly unaware about dental prosthesis. Awareness regarding dental
prosthesis was signicantly less in the Muslim community. Majority (77.40%) of the total
subjects visited a dentist and 22.60% had never visited a dentist.Majority (59.68%) of the
subjects who visited a dentist availed hospital facilities irrespective of their place of dwelling
and family size.Majority (50.72%) of the denture wearers were from the highest family
income group whereas only 8.69% were from the low income group.
Conclusion : The awareness of prosthetic needs is of utmost importance to the patients,
and they not only help maintain occlusion but also gives better physiological balances. It is
the role of the government as well as the practitioners to increase awareness regarding the
type of denture to patients of all strata and age.
Key Words : Prosthetic needs, Dentures, Replacement of teeth, Denture wearers,
Prosthodontics, West Bengal.
Gradual changes take place in the
masticatory system, as wear and tear at the
occluding and proximal surfaces take place,
which in turn is compensated by eruption of
teeth and the mesial migration.2
If an articial replacement is not
fabricated quickly following loss or removal
of a tooth, it may result in a number of
deleterious effects on the neighboring and
opposing teeth, in addition to diminished
masticatory efciency. Depending on
circumstances such deleterious effects over
a period of time may even damage the whole
occlusion and the masticatory system. The
position normally occupied by a tooth in the
dental arch depends on the balance of all
forces acting on the tooth over an extended
period of time. Sustained alterations in the
magnitude and duration of forces causes the
position of the tooth to change.2
Loss of teeth also leads to altered speech
articulation and may cause appreciable
changes in the facial appearance. This
leads to social and psychological problems
for the individual. Prolonged interference
or lack of occlusion due to loss of teeth may
26 Prosthodontic needs and their availability
J West Bengal Univ Health Sci | Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | October 2023
also give rise to temporomandibular joint
pain dysfunction syndrome in the long run.
Prosthodontic services like articial xed
or removable dentures or maxillofacial
prosthesis are prescribed to rehabilitate the
masticatory apparatus, correct speech and
improve aesthetics.3
In India, prosthodontic services
are available, but the awareness
among the common people regarding
the availability, necessity and value of
prosthodontic restoration, complications
and health problems arising from the lack
of Prosthodontic service facilities;4 in semi-
urban areas in and around the city of Kolkata,
as a part of the government dental health
care program, prevailing socio-economic
condition, urban bias as evidenced in the
distribution of dental population may be
some of the underlying reasons. Therefore,
it is important to assess the pattern of
distribution of the prosthodontic needs of
the population as well as the availability
of prosthodontic services in relation to age,
sex, education, religion, income, occupation
and locality.5,6
Such assessment guides us in
implementing the necessary prosthodontic
health education programs and services. This
study would also serve as a base line study
for future references and further study.
Aims and Objectives
India is one of the signatories to “Health
of all by 2000 A.D.” in the year of 1971
at Almaata of Russia.4Considering the
importance of prosthodontic services, a part
of health care system and the necessity of
proper distribution of such services amongst
the vast population of India, this study has
been undertaken with an aim to assess the
prosthodontic needs and the availability of
these needs by an average Indian population
above 15 years of age in urban and semi-
urban population7 in and around the city of
Kolkata.
Materials and Methods
This study was conducted on a total of1000
subjects. Among these 525 subjects were
randomly collected by simple random
sampling technique from within the area of
Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Remaining
samples were randomly collected from the
semi-urban area, for example – Rajarhat,
Barrackpore, Hooghly, South DumDum,
Baruipur Municipalities. Theses were
adjacent to the Kolkata Municipal
Corporation.
All the subjects selected were above
the age of 15 years, in order to carry out a
comprehensive comparison of awareness
and need about dental treatment between
the younger and old subjects. Samples were
collected for this study from each and every
cross section of the Urban and Semi-urban
population to reduce biasness. Samples
were collected at random from amongst the
people living in –
A. Multistoried ats located in the posh
areas of the city, representing the urban
class population,
B. Old part of the city comprising of mixed
population of mostly middle class and
lower middle class and a few upper-
class people, representing mixed urban
population,
C. Semi urban areas like various
municipalities closely adjacent to the
Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
A door to door visit was made in the
early mornings, evenings or on holidays.
Efforts were made to get as much correct
data as possible.
Subjects were rst interviewed as
recommended by Sellitz et al (1962)8
Galterng
(1965),9 Swender (1969),10 Amberson(1974),11
Norhiem and Heloe (1977),12 with the
help of printed questionnaire form framed
with closed answers (Annexure 1). The
Kritika Rajan et al 27
J West Bengal Univ Health Sci | Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | October 2023
questionnaires were mainly made in
English.
A translation in Bengali and Hindi
version questionnaire were also available
and used as and when necessary. The
questionnaire was formed with an objective
to attain data regarding edentulousness
of people, need of prosthetic services and
utilization and availability of the services.
It was followed by a clinical examination,
post-consent using a mouth mirror, an
explorer and adequate illumination by
an ordinary torch of two battery cells as
recommended by Rise and Heloe (1977).13 It
was carried out according to the American
Dental Association StandardizationType 3
method of inspection and examination as
cited by Dunning (1979).14 Edentulousness,
Occurrence and Type of prosthesis in the
mouth, if any, was noted. The general
condition of the denture was also assessed.
All the data collected was tabulated
and subjected to statistical analysis. For
the analysis. Personian x2 had been used
as a test of goodness of t relating to the
objectives taken into consideration i.e., the
divergence between the fact and the theory
is signicant or not.
Results and Discussion
For the purpose of the study, 1000 subjects
above 15 years of age were randomly selected
from Urban and Semi-urban population
in and around the city of Kolkata. The
subjects were given printed questionnaire
structured with closed answers. They
were rst interviewed followed by clinical
examination. Data collected were tabulated
and subjected to statistical evaluation
A total number 1000 subjects were
selected randomly from the above-mentioned
population out of which 552 (55.2%) subjects
were males and 448 (44.8%) were females.
Of the total subjects 586 (58.6%) were from
urban and 414 (41.4%) were from semi-urban
population. 641 (64.1%) of the subjects were
Hindus, 247 (24.7%) were Muslims, 40 (4%)
were Sikhs and 72 (7.2%) were from other
religions.
Occupationally, 217 (21.7%) of the total
subjects were service holders, 157 (15.7%)
were businessmen, 215 (21.5%) were
students, 246 (24.6%) were house wives and
165 (16.5%) were from other professions. Out
of the total subjects, there were 84 (8.4%)
illiterates, 114 (11.4%) subjects studied
upto primary level, 203 (20.3%) studied
upto middle level, 146 (14.6%) studied upto
secondary school standard, 187 (18.7%)
studied upto higher secondary standard,
224 (22.4%) were graduates and 42 (4.2%)
were technically qualied.
Of the total subjects, 235 (23.5%) were
from Rs. 10,000/- or above family income
(per month) group, 195 (19.5%) were from
Rs. 5000/- to Rs. 10,000/- family income
(per month) group, 298 (29.8%) were from
Rs. 2000/- to Rs. 5000/- family income (per
month) group and 282 (28.2%) were from
less than Rs. 2000/- family income (per
month) group.
Out of the total subjects, there were 129
(12.9%) families comprising of two members,
550 (55%) families comprising of four
members, 178 (17.8%) families comprising
of six member and 143 (14.3%) families
comprising of more than six members.
Thus, a complete cross section of the
population belonging to different sexes,
localities, religions, occupations, educational
qualications, family sizes and family
income groups were included in the study.15
Out of the 498 (49.8%) edentulous
subjects, 222 (44.57%) were males and 276
(55.42%) were females. Among the total
edentulous subjects 76 (15.25%) had only
front teeth missing, 232 (46.57%) had only
back teeth missing, 160 (32.12%) had both
front and back teeth missing and rest 30
(6.02%) were completely edentulous.
28 Prosthodontic needs and their availability
J West Bengal Univ Health Sci | Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | October 2023
Majority of the partially edentulous
subjects had back teeth missing (46.57%)
because apart from bearing the major
amount of occlusal load, the permanent
molars in general and the rst permanent
molars in particular are most prone to
carious involvement. This leads to carious
and periodontal problem consequently
leading to tooth loss.16
A study on a group of 3711 students
reported that caries susceptibility of upper
and lower rst molars and upper and lower
second molars is 95% and 75% respectively
in contrast to 30% caries susceptibility for
upper central and lateral incisors and 3% for
lower central and lateral incisors. Majority of
the anterior tooth loss were owing to trauma
besides caries and periodontal disease. Few
anterior teeth were missing due to true
partial anodontia. Higher percentage of
only anterior teeth missing were found in
younger age group whereas with increase of
age both front and back teeth were found to
be missing.17
The completely edentulous subjects were
of the older age group. As the age progresses,
multitudes of factors that are responsible
for tooth loss come into play resulting in
edentulism. Heloe (1973) reported 33.33%
edentulousness in a group of 216 subjects
aged 20 to 60 years in Norway.18
Number of edentulous subjects reported
in all the above study was less than the
present study since those were conducted in
developed countries where people are more
afuent, educated, health conscious and
covered by well-equipped advanced medical
facilities. On the other hand, Grabowski
and Bertram (1975) reported that 68.2%
of a population were edentulous.2 Their
observation was much higher than the
present study since the subjects considered
were all above 65 years of age.
Among the subjects, 609 (60.9%) of
the total subjects were aware of prosthetic
dental treatment whereas 391 (39.1%) were
unaware of the same. χ² values at 3 d. f.
proves that there is no signicant difference
in the male and female population as regards
to awareness and non-awareness.
According to Table-1, out of the total
subjects who were aware of dental prosthesis,
354 (58.13) were from urban and 255
(41.87%) were from Semi-urban population.
Table 1: Distribution of subjects aware of prosthesis
by type of residence and age group
Percentages (%) are shown in parenthesis
Age Group
Type of residence
Urban Semi-urban
Male Female Male Female
15 – 29 111
56.34%
104
66.24%
79
55,63%
75
66.37%
30 – 44 41
20.81%
31
19.74%
30
21.12%
22
19.46%
45 – 59 34
17.25%
20
12.73%
25
17.60%
15
13.27%
60 + 11
5.58%
2
1.27%
8
5.63%
1
0.88%
Total 197
55.65%
157
44.35%
142
55.69%
113
44.31%
Kritika Rajan et al 29
J West Bengal Univ Health Sci | Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | October 2023
The differences in level of awareness and
non-awareness between Urban and Semi-
Urban population were not so signicant.
This is probably because Semi-urban
population included in the present study
was adjacent to the city of Kolkata with a
fair amount of literacy, health consciousness
and larger dentist to population ratio.
Moreover, dental treatment in the state of
West Bengal is available even upto the block
primary health Centre level.
Educated subjects like service holders
(24.79%) and students (25.77%) were found
to be more aware about dental prosthesis
compared to others. The level of awareness
regarding dental prosthesis in subjects
with educational background and age
groupexhibited a strong co-relation between
the level of educational background and
awareness regarding dental prosthesis.
Statistical analysis establishes that the
threshold level of awareness is documented
by primary level of education. However,
7.22% of illiterate subjects were found to be
aware of prosthesis. This could probably be
less in illiterate population in more remote
areas which requires further study.
Awareness among subjects belonging
to various family income groups (per
month),was found to be more in subjects
whose family income was Rs. 10,000/- or
more (per month), which gradually reduced
in the lesser income groups, the least being
in those whose monthly family income were
subjects belonging to higher income less
than Rs. 2000/- (per month).groups, are in
general more qualied educationally and
are involved in professions that demand
more aesthetic consciousness and social
mixing which accounts for their increased
awareness regarding dental prosthesis.
However, the expected values when
subjected to x² test at 3 d.f. rendering them
unacceptable statistically. This may be due
to inadequate supply of information by the
subjects as well as improper representation
of different family income groups in the
present study since the subjects were
randomly selected.
When subjected to χ² test at 3 d.f.
awareness regarding dental prosthesis were
found to be least in the Muslim community
while there was increased level of awareness
in subjects belonging to Hindu, Sikh and
Other religions. Muslim subjects were less
aware probably because they are mostly
educationally backward, economically poor
and socially handicapped.
Majority of the subjects (48.79%) felt
difculty while chewing followed by those
subjects who felt it affected their health
(14.95%). The subjects who felt tooth loss
affected their appearance, social pride
and speech were more or less equally
distributed. Since, in this study, majority
of the subjects with some amount of tooth
loss had their back teeth missing, majority
of the subject reported difculty in chewing.
A sizable number of subjects had also felt
that it affected their appearance and lead
to social embarrassment as they had their
front teeth missing.
Subjects who were psychologically
indifferent or suffered from lack of
awareness and education probably felt no
difculty with loss of teeth. When these
values were subjected to x² test at 3 d.f.,
the expected x² values of tooth loss affecting
social embarrassment and chewing are in
good agreement with the subjective values
and the results were statistically acceptable.
However, the same was not true for the
effect of tooth loss on speech, health and
in subjects found that tooth loss had not
affected them at all. More subjects (77.4%)
visited a dentist while only a few subjects
(22.6%) did not majority of the subjects
(59.68%) visited a dentist in a hospital
while least (13.04%) attended a private
clinic. More subjects availed hospital facility
since they found it to be less expensive and
more well-equipped. Since the study was in
and around the city of Kolkata with more
30 Prosthodontic needs and their availability
J West Bengal Univ Health Sci | Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | October 2023
well-equipped hospital facilities, many of
the subjects from the higher income group
might have opted for the same.
Many subjects were referred from a
private clinic to a hospital, or visited a
private clinic after being dissatised with
hospital treatment. x² test at 3 d.f. conrms
these values of subjects visiting a dentist to
be statistically acceptable while the same is
not true for the gure relating to subjects
who did not visit a dentist. The higher
incidence of visiting a dentist in this study
were in accordance with the observations
made by Beal et al (1977) who found that
visiting a dentist in given population in
England and Wales increased from 40.1% in
1968 to 52% in 1977.19 Similar observations
were made by Rajala et al. (1978) who
reported 46.1% of industrial workers visited
a dentist regularly, while 32.4% visited a
dentist annually, and 21.5% visited a dentist
once in two years.20
Among the subjects of higher family
income group, more persons visited in a
private clinic (41.05%) and less visited at
a hospital (33.33%) and the rest visited
both. As the average family income per
month decreased, there were more tendency
towards availing of hospital facility.
Table-2 shows the distribution of
subjects by type of residence and age group.
More urban subjects (58.26 %) visited a
dentist than semi-urban subjects (45.74%).
Both these values were accepted statistically
when subjected to χ² test at 3 d.f. proving
a positive association between type of
residence and visiting a dentist. Similar
observations were made by Rise et al. (1977)
who concluded that more urban subjects
had visited a dentist at a younger age than
rural subjects.14 These observations were
probably due to higher level of economy,
education and availability of dentist in an
urban population.
The urban subjects visited a dentist
more than semi-urban population in both
hospitals as well as in private clinic.
This proves that urban population avails
more dental treatment than semi-urban
population in whichever establishment
available to them.
Table 2: Distribution of subjects visiting a dentist
by type of residence and age group
Percentages (%) are shown in parenthesis
Age Group Visiting a dentist
Urban Semi-urban
15 – 29 244
54.10%
148
45.82%
30 - 44 113
25.05%
92
28.48%
45 – 59 79
17.51%
70
21.67%
60 + 15
3.32%
13
4.02%
TOTAL 451
58.26%
323
41.74%
Kritika Rajan et al 31
J West Bengal Univ Health Sci | Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | October 2023
The subjects belonging to a family size
of four members visited a dentist more
than the other family sizes taken into
consideration both in private clinics as well
as hospitals. However, when the values of
this table were subjected to χ² test at 2
d.f. they were not statistically acceptable
which proves that only family size may
not be a decisive factor in seeking dental
treatment. This is probably because the
seeking of dental treatment was inuenced
more by the total family income than by
the family size of the family. A bigger
family may have more earning members
thereby increasing monthly family income,
while a small two members family has
less expenditure per month despite having
some-what less family income than a larger
family size.
In younger age group of 15-29 years,
more persons had full complement of teeth
(30.3%) than those having a few missing teeth
(24%) while from the next higher age groups,
there were more subjects with missing teeth
than with full complement of teeth. Among
the subjects with some amount of tooth loss,
the subjects of younger age group had only
a few teeth missing in majority of the cases
which gradually increased with higher age
groupsprogressed multitudes of factors
responsible for tooth loss come into play
accounting for more edentulism in the older
age group. For obvious reasons of increased
age majority of the older subjects had
missing teeth for more than 5 years while
the younger subjects had most teeth missing
for just more than 2 years.
Table-3, shows the distribution of
subjects by reason for not making dental
prosthesis Majority of the subjects not
availing of prosthodontic treatment found
it too expensive (4.96%) while a sizable
number of subjects (31 7%) complained that
facilities were not available. Other subjects
not seeking prosthodontic treatment found
no time (7.2296) were not aware (18 64%),
and believed that a denture is not useful
(7.45%). Similar observations were made
by Heloe et al (1973) who found that poor
economy, no time and unavailability of
dentists in the locality were the reasons
for not seeking dental treatment.18 When
Table 3: Distribution of subjects by reasons
for not making prosthesis and age group
Percentages (%) are shown in parenthesis
Age Group
Reasons for not making prosthesis
Facilities
not available
Not aware
of it Expensive No time Not useful
15 - 29 93
68.38%
48
60.00%
60
40.00%
12
38.70%
11
34.37%
30 – 44 22
16.17%
14
17.50%
41
27.33%
8
25.80%
7
21.87%
45 – 59 18
13.23%
13
16.25%
41
27.33%
11
35.48%
13
40.62%
60 + 3
2.20%
5
6.25%
8
5.33%
0
0.00
1
3.12%
TOTAL 136
31.70%
80
18.64%
150
34.96%
31
7.22%
32
7.45%
32 Prosthodontic needs and their availability
J West Bengal Univ Health Sci | Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | October 2023
subjected to x2 at 3 df the reasons of
expensive, no time and not useful were
found to be statistically acceptable at 5%
level of signicance, whereas the excuses of
facilities not available and not aware of it
did not hold ground.
The subjects who got dentures fabricated
belonged mostly to the higher family income
group of Rs. 10,000/- and above (per month)
which gradually decreased with decreased
in monthly family income. This relationship
between average monthly family income
and denture wearers was established by
subjecting the value to χ2 test at df3.
Table-4, shows the distribution of
denture wearers by type of prosthesis, sex
and age groups. In total 69(13.85%) of the
edentulous subjects in this study were
denture wearers, of which 48(69.56%)
were males and 21(30.43%) were females.
Of the total subjects 66(95.60%) had
removable dentures. In total 3(4.34%) had
xed dentures. In total 8(11.59%) subjects
had complete dentures. The values of
this table were found to be statistically
acceptable when subjected to x2 test at
3 d. f. Walls et al (1941) observed that
only 5% of edentulous women in U.S.A.
had no dentures.17 Corridan (1965) found
that 13% of edentulous men and 32% of
edentulous women wore complete dentures.
Richard et al, (1965) reported that in two
communities of London, 20% had removable
partial dentures and 45% wore complete
dentures.21 All these above ndings are
much higher than the present study since
those were conducted among countries with
advanced economy, subjects in developed
western educational status and oral health
consciousness.
Majority of articial denture wearers
resided in the urban region (62.3%). All
types of denture wearer were more in the
urban region with all three male subjects
that had xed partial dentures belong to
Table 4: Distribution of denture wearers
by type of prosthesis, sex and age group
Percentages (%) are shown in parenthesis
Age
Group
Reasons for not making prosthesis
Articial
prosthesis
Removable
prosthesis
Fixed
prosthesis
Partial
prosthesis
Complete
prosthesis Others
M F M F M F M F M F M F
15 - 29 11
22.91%
5
23.80%
10
22.72%
5
22.72%
1
33.33%
0
0.00
11
28.20%
5
22.72%
0
0.00
0
0.00
0
0.00
0
0.00
30 – 44 20
41.66%
8
38.09%
16
39.36%
10
45.45%
2
66.66%
0
0.00
14
35.89%
10
45.45%
3
42.85%
1
100% 10
0.00
45 – 59 13
27.08%
5
23.80%
12
27.27%
6
27.27%
0
0.00
0
0.00
9
23.07%
6
27.27%
3
42.85%
0
0.00
0
0.00
0
0.00
60 + 4
8.33%
3
14.28%
6
13.63%
1
4.54%
0
0.00
0
0.00
5
12.82%
1
4.54%
1
14.28%
0
0.00
0
0.00
0
0.00
TOTAL 48
69.56%
21
14.28%
44
63.76%
22
31.88%
3
4.34%
0
0.00
39
56.52%
22
31.88%
7
10.14%
1
1.44%
0
0.00
0
0.00
M- Male
F - Female
Kritika Rajan et al 33
J West Bengal Univ Health Sci | Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | October 2023
the same region. The urban population
explained earlier were more educationally
and socially advanced to seek prosthodontic
treatments and also enjoyed the economy
and infrastructure to meet their demands.
The values of the table when subjected to
x² test at 3 d.f. proved to be statistically
acceptable.
Majority of the subjects used removable
dentures made of non-metals. Only three
subjects had fixed partial dentures made
of metals. Those three subjects belonged
to relatively younger age groups. The
values of this table when subjected to
x2 test at 3 d.f. proved to be statistically
acceptable. Heloe (1973) reported that only
3.24% people (1% men and 2.4% women)
in a population, in Norway had fixed
prosthesis in their mouth.18 Hansen et al,
in a study conducted in the city of Oslo,
Norway found that 12% of the subjects
had one or more fixed bridges and 29
9% had one or more crown restorations.3
These figures were much higher than the
present study as they were conducted
in rich and developed western countries
with higher level of education and health
consciousness.
Of the total 69 dentures wearers, 9
were made for the second time and 2 were
made for the fourth time while majority
of the dentures (58) were fabricated for
the first time. 15 subjects wore dentures
irregularly while 54 wore them regularly.
The dentures may be ill fitting, broken
or lost, improperly occluding of poor
aesthetics as well as subject may not
accept the dentures psychology resulting
in remaking of dentures. While most
subjects would adjust to a denture in
a few days, a few would face difficulty
in adjusting to a denture and wear it
irregularly. The values in this table when
subjected to χ2 test at 3 d.f. were found to
be statistically accepted except where the
value was zero.
Conclusion
Following conclusions have been drawn
from the obtained results.
1. 49.8% of the total subjects were
edentulous. Older people were more
edentulous than youngsters.
2. Majority of the partially edentulous
subjects had their posterior teeth
missing.
3. 60.90% of the total subjects were aware
of dental prosthesis while 39.10%
unaware of the same irrespective of
their dwelling areas.
4. No signicant relation have been
obtained between prosthetic awareness
and monthly family income.
5. Subjects with a low level of illiteracy
were found to be signicantly unaware
about dental prosthesis, while level
of awareness gradually increased
with increase level of education.
Awareness regarding dental prosthesis
was signicantly less in the Muslim
community than the subjects belonging
other religions.
6. Majority (77.40%) of the total subjects
visited a dentist and 22.60% had never
visited a dentist.
7. Majority (59.68%) of the subjects
who visited a dentist availed hospital
facilities irrespective of their place of
dwelling and family size.
8. A sizable number (34.96%) of the
edentulous subjects did not avail
prosthetic service since they found it to
be expensive.
9. Majority (50.72%) of the denture
wearers were from the highest family
Income group whereas only 8.69% were
from the low income group.
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J West Bengal Univ Health Sci | Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | October 2023
10. 88.4% of the denture wearers wore
removable partial dentures, 11.59%
wore complete dentures and only 4.34%
wore xed prosthesis.
11. Majority (78.26%) of denture wearers
used their dentures regularly.
Drawbacks of the Study
Since the study was conducted only on 1000
subjects it is possible that a large section
had not been covered. Therefore, further
studies in this regard with a larger sample
size is suggested.
References
1. Bandopadhyay, A. Masticatory
efciency and natural dentition- loss
of rst molar teeth. 1985, Dissertation.
Calcutta university.
2. Grabowski, M. and Bertram U. Oral
health status and need of dental
treatment in the elderly Danish
population. Community Dent. Oral
Epidemiol. 1975; 3(3): 108-14.
3. Hansen, Frode B, Johnsen R. Dental
Visits, teeth remaining and Prosthetic
appliances in a Norwegian urban
population, community. DentOral
Epidemiol. 1976;4: 176-181.
4. Singh B. P., Srivastava A. B., Wahi J,
Singh P. N. An evaluation of prosthetic
needs of the patients visiting the dental
outdoor of S. S. Hospital, B.H.U; U. P.
1976. State Dental Journal; 6:1: 15-19.
5. Udani T. M. Age incidence of Indian
patients in need of Full Denture Service.
J. Indian Dent. Ass. 1954; 26:5.
6. Downer M. C., WhittleJ. G, Teagle F. A.
Factors inuencingthe local planning of
dental services. Community Dent. Oral
Epidemiol. 1979;7: 264, 269.
7. HelocL.A. Oral health status and
treatment needs in a disadvantaged
rural population in Norway. Community
Dent. Oral Epidemiol. 1973;1:94-103.
8. SellitzC. Jahoda M, Dentsch M, Cook
SW. Research methods in social
relations Holt, Rinchart and Winston,
New York. 1962:170-7, 238-43.
9. Galtung J.Theory and methods of
social research. 1965,University Books,
Universitetsforlaget Oslo: 116-18.
10. Swedner H. Sociologisk method.
Gleerup. Lund. 1969:221-224.
11. AbramsonJ. N. Survey methods
in community medicine, Churchill
Livingstone, Edinburgh-London.
1974:107
12. Norheim P. W, Heloe, L. A.Differences
between dental health data obtained
by interviews and questionnaires.
Community Dent. Oral Epidemiol.
1977:121-125.
13. DunningJM. Principles of Dental Public
Health, 3rd Ed. Cambridge, M.A.:
Harvard University Press. 1979:322.
14. Rise J, Heloe L.A. Oral conditions
and need for dental treatment in an
elderly population in Northern Norway.
Community Dent. Oral Epidemiol.
1978;6:6-11.
15. Swallow J. N, Groenestijn MAJ, Wall
CJ, Mileman PA. A survey of edentulous
individuals in a district in Amsterdam,
the Netherlands. Community Dent.
Oral Epidemiol. 1978;6: 210-216.
16. Roder DM. Tooth loss in South
Australia. Community Dent. Oral
Epidemiol. 1975;3:283-287.
17. Walls RM, Lewis SR, Pollar ML. Study
of dental needs for adults in U.S.A. J.
Am. Dent. Assoc. 1941;28, 154.
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18. Heloe LA, Tronstad L. The use of
dental services among Norwegian
adults in 1973. Community Dental Oral
Epidemiol. 1975;3: 120-125.
19. Beal JF, Dowell TB. Edentulousness
and attendance patterns in England
and Wales. Brit. Dent. J. 1977;143(6):
203-7.
20. Rajala AL, Rajala M, Paunio I.
Utilization of dental care in a Finnish
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Oral Epidemiol. 1978;6: 121-125.
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JS, Slack GL. A survey of dental health
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ANNEXURE - 1
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Date :
2. Name :
3. Age :
4. Sex :
5. Address (Full postal address with pin code)
Street……………..Vill/P.O.................. P.S……….... Sub/……………... Dt………….…......
Tel. No……………………………. Pin.......................................
6. Household number :
7. Head of the family :
8. Relation with the head of the family:
9. Religion: Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, others (Jain, Christian)
10. Educational Qualication: Illiterate, Literate upto primary level, Middle Level
education, Secondary, Higher Secondary, Graduate and above, technical education
11. Occupation: a) Service b) Business c) Student d) House wife e) Others
12. Average Family Income (Per month) :
a) Rs. 10,000/- or more b) Rs. 5000/-- 10,000/- c) Rs. 2000/- Rs. 5000/- d) Less than Rs.
2000/-
13. No. of dependents in the family
14. Ever visited a dentist? Yes , No
15. If Yes, was it in (i) Hospital (ii) Private Clinic
16. Any missing tooth in your mouth? Yes, No
17. Number of missing teeth a) Front b) Back c) Mixed
18. Tooth loss affecting a) appearance b) Social Embarrasment c) Speech d) Health e)
Chewing f) None
19. First Loss of tooth a) Year b) Month c) Congenital
Kritika Rajan et al 37
J West Bengal Univ Health Sci | Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | October 2023
20. Articial replacement done Yes No
21. Last tooth extracted a) Less than six months b) Six months to One Year c) 1 Year to 2
Years d) More than 2 years
22. Articial replacement done after last tooth extracted Yes No
23. Causes of edentulousness a) extracted b) exfoliated i) Injury ii) Disease c) Congenital
24. Are you aware of articial replacement of missing teeth? Yes No
25. Are you using any articial prosthesis? Yes No
26. If Yes, period of using articial dentures Yr……….. Month ……………….
27. No. of articial dentures worn 1 2 3 4
28. Types of prosthesis worn (a) Partial dentures (i) Removable (ii) Fixed
(b) Complete denture (c) Any other
29. Reasons of Prosthesis not used a) Facilities not available b) Not aware of it c) Expensive
d) Do not have time e) articial dentures not useful
30. Denture used regularly Yes No
31. If Not, why?
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J West Bengal Univ Health Sci | Vol. 4 | Issue 2 | October 2023
ORAL EXAMINATION
I. Teeth Missing -0
II. Types of edentulous space - class 1 2 3 4
(according to Kennedy) Mod
III. Prosthesis worn - Yes No
a) If yes, Type of Prosthesis presently worn -
(i) Complete denture (ii) Partial denture - Removable (iii) Fixed (iv) Any other
IV. Need for any new prosthesis? Yes No
V. Denture base of the Present prosthesis -
a) Material: i) acrylic ii) Metal
b) Colour: i) Pink ii) Clear iii) Others
c) Retention: i) Good ii) Poor
d) Condition: i) Porous ii) Crazed iii) Ill tting O
VII. Articial tooth Material - a) Acrylic b) Porcelain c) Others
VIII. Jaw Relation-
a) Vertical dimension of occlusion: i) good ii) Poor
b) Centric relation: i) good ii) Poor
IX. Aesthetics - i) Satisfactory ii) Unsatisfactory O
X. Phonetics - i) Satisfactory ii) Unsatisfactory
XI. Retention - i) good ii) Average iii) Poor
XII. Lenture prognosis (dependent upon oral condition) - i) Good ii) Average iii) Poor
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