Denture loss: an 8-month study in a community dental setting.
OBJECTIVE
Lost dentures can be a frustrating scenario for both patients and clinicians. This study aimed to find out where dentures were being lost and the level of assistance patients received with denture care.


RESULTS
The results showed most dentures were lost in the hospital environment, and in many cases patients were not provided with pots in which to store their dentures or offered help or advice on denture care. The provision of new dentures to this patient group is complicated by the fact that in many cases the dentures were over ten years old and many of the patients were over eighty five years old. This makes adaptation to new dentures difficult.


CONCLUSIONS
It is imperative that protocols are developed and staff trained to minimise the risk of lost dentures and improve the standard of denture care.
Michaeli
Leila
L
Department of Restorative Dentistry, Kings College London Dental Institute at Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Hospitals, London, UK. leilamichaeli@hotmail.com
Davis
David M
DM
Foxton
Richard
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003149:Community Dentistry; D016321:Dental Care for Aged; D003821:Denture Identification Marking; D003778:Dentures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009735:Nursing Homes