No abstract

Introduction: Dental undergraduate students and postgraduates do learn conventional denture making as their curriculum but previous studies have found that the final-year undergraduate students lack the confidence which is required in treating completely edentulous patients. This pilot questionnaire survey was done to evaluate patient awareness about dental implants and satisfaction with conventional complete dentures fabricated by undergraduate and postgraduate students in the department of prosthodontics. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on thirty patients who received complete maxillary and mandibular denture. These 30 patients were divided into two groups, each group consisting of 15 patients on the basis if the denture was fabricated by a postgraduate or undergraduate student. After using the denture for a period of 3 months, the patients rated the functioning of the dentures using the questionnaire survey. The patient was also asked about the knowledge about the implant and their willingness to go for the implant treatment. Results: Patient satisfaction was significantly higher amongst the patients who received complete denture fabricated by postgraduate students as compared to undergraduate students, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05) for six of the seven questions. Most of the patients were not aware of the dental implants, and the cost of the implant is a major factor for not going for implant treatment. Conclusion: The pilot study showed that the patients who received complete denture delivered by the undergraduates were not satisfied with the fit, masticatory efficiency and encountered falling of denture while talking and eating. In contrast, the patients who received complete denture delivered by the postgraduate students were happy with the fit and masticatory efficiency. The present survey found that there is a lack of awareness about implants in patients, and the cost factor is a major hurdle in patients for not taking implants as a treatment option.

In our day to day practice we come across patients who present with different forms of residual ridges i.e well formed ridges, severely resorbed or bulbous ridges. An excessively bulky maxillary ridge accompanied by a labial undercut and an inclined pre maxilla can compromise the facial esthetics. The thickness of the labial flange can further compromise the labial fullness and result in an unesthetic maxillary denture. So, in such clinical situations an unconventional approach may be considered for the fabrication of complete denture. This case report thus, describes a simple, economical, conservative and non-surgical treatment modality for fabrication of denture in a patient with a bulky maxillary ridge with a prominent labial undercut to enhance the facial esthetics of the patient.