Incidence of Common Post-Insertion Complaints in Patients with Removable Complete Denture Prostheses

Abstract

Background: Complete dentures are commonly used for edentulous patients, yet post-insertion complaints such as pain, discomfort, and functional issues frequently arise. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate post-insertion complaints associated with complete dentures and to identify the primary causes and categories of these complaints among patients fitted with Poly Methyl Meth Acrylate (PMMA) dentures. Study Design: Cross-sectional study Setting: Dental Department of Rashid Latif Dental College, Lahore Duration: From September 2021 to February 2022. Methods: A total of 150 patients who received complete dentures in both arches within the past month were included. Patients with chronic systemic disorders, psychological or neurological conditions, and those who had undergone surgical resections were excluded. Data on demographics, including age and gender, were recorded. Patients’ complaints were categorized into four groups: retention, discomfort, esthetics, and miscellaneous. Complaints were further classified into three cause categories: denture base errors, occlusal errors, and physio-psychological errors. Results: The study found that 64 patients (42.7%) reported pain and discomfort, 35 (23.3%) experienced loss of retention, 24 (16.0%) had difficulty in speech, 18 (12.0%) suffered from ulceration, and 9 (6.0%) had difficulty in mastication. No significant differences were observed in complaints between genders (p = 0.417) or across different age groups. Conclusion: The study highlights that pain and discomfort are the most common complaints following denture insertion, with no significant variation by gender or age.