title: Patient's satisfaction with removable dentures after relining.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To reveal patients' satisfaction with their old, usually poorly fitting dentures and the effect of denture relining to the patient's satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty seven denture wearers participated in study by filling out questionnaires about their satisfaction with dentures before and after relining. In that way the data indicating the subjective patient's experience and satisfaction were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relined removable dentures included in study were on average 5.52 years (upper) or 4.86 years old (lower). Most of study participants (57%) were satisfied with their poor fitting dentures. Statistically significant was correlation between chewing discomfort and satisfaction, and the time elapsed from last tooth extraction to denture production. As this period was shorter, chewing discomfort was greater and satisfaction with chewing lower. Majority (53.3%) of denture wearers were considerably more satisfied with the chewing ability and felt better regarding the chewing discomfort after denture relining. Minority of the patients (22%) still used an adhesive for fixing the dentures after relining.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Denture relining affects patient's satisfaction with their dentures. After relining patient's masticatory function was improved, satisfaction with chewing ability and comfort were greater, and denture hygiene better. Denture relining should be performed in order to improve denture fitting to a denture bearing area, thus positively affecting patient's satisfaction with his denture(s).
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. kranjcic@sfzg.hr
authors.forename: Josip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kranjčić
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kostelić-Stunić
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vojvodić
authors.forename: Asja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Celebić
authors.forename: Dragutin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Komar
authors.forename: Ketij
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mehulić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003823:Denture Rebasing; D006801:Humans; D008409:Mastication; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires