title: Perceptions and preferences on denture marking in an Indian sample.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Denture marking is useful in institutional settings and post-mortem identification. Numerous markers have been developed, and their advantages and limitations assessed previously; however, patient perception to denture marking is paramount. We evaluated this in an Indian sample and also gauged their preference for different markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred and one edentulous patients seeking prosthodontic treatment in our institution were shown four denture markers (stainless steel matrix band, paper strip with name inscribed on it, patient photograph and optically readable laminated bar code) and asked whether they wanted similar markers in their dentures; patients were also asked to rank the markers based on preference and indicate their satisfaction with it.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately two-thirds of patients (65/101) were uninterested in getting their dentures marked; among the 36 who agreed, 10 preferred the stainless steel band followed by photographs (9), paper strip (6) and bar code (2); nine gave multiple responses and were excluded from analyses. Sixteen patients expressed dissatisfaction with the photographic marker and bar code, while this number reduced for the stainless steel band (13) and paper strip (10).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results are in contrast to European studies wherein the majority of patients agreed to denture marking, indicating patient background (e.g. education level) may affect perception to denture marking; amongst those who agreed to marking, most preferred, or were satisfied with, the stainless steel and paper strip markers over photographic marker and a complex method such as bar-coding, implying that simple methods harbouring basic patient information may suffice in the Indian context.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Odontology, SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, India. ashith.acharya@sdmcds.edu
authors.forename: Ashith B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: Gouri V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Anehosur
authors.forename: Pooja P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Kanchi
authors.forename: Medha G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.forename: Ramesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Nadiger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003821:Denture Identification Marking / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D003824:Denture, Complete / Q000523:psychology; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000523:psychology; D010209:Paper; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010781:Photography; D013193:Stainless Steel; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D013193:Stainless Steel