FREQUENCY OF COMMON FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR NON-TREATMENT OF PARTIAL EDENTULISM

Abstract

There are number of patient related factors which result in non-treatment of missing teeth despite having favorable conditions for replacement. the study was done to determine the frequency of the common factors responsible for non-treatment of partial edentulism.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Bacha Khan Medical college, Mardan on 385 participants. Patiens with partial edentulism, both genders, Pakistani nationals were included. Patients using/having history of fixed or removable prostheses and patients with cognitive impairment, reduced intelligence and uncooperative behavior were excluded from the study. Personal data like age, genders including the patient socioeconomic status were recorded. Socioeconomic status were taken as the subjects present financial condition, education and occupation using the modified Kuppuswamy classification. Common factors for not replacing missing teeth were documented.. Statistical analysis of the data were done using Software Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Effect modifiers and genders were controlled by stratification using Chisquare test. P<0.05 was considered significant.

Most of the participants (n=223, 57.9%) had no knowledge about the replacement of missing teeth. Most of the participants (53.8 %) had middle socio-economic level (Kuppuswamy level III). Age and gender were not a significant factor for not replacing missing teeth (P>0.05). The most significant factor for not replacing missing teeth was socio-economic status.

CONCLUSION: The findings of this study showed that most of the participants belong to middle socio-economic class. Socioeconomic status is most important factor for non-replacing missing teeth.