Epidemiological study on prosthodontic appliance deliveries within elderly cohorts in the Republic of Croatia, 2002-2006.

Number of the dentate subjects among the elderly is dramatically increasing, as is the elderly proportion in overall population. Such trends indicate more need for prosthodontic appliances in elderly. The aim of this investigation was to determine the distribution of various prosthodontic appliances in older age cohorts, subventioned by the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance. Data on various prosthodontic appliances subventioned by the CIHI and delivered in all Croatian districts in the period 2002-2006 was obtained and statistically analyzed relative to 4 age cohorts of 50 and more years. The oldest age cohort (80+) showed the least appliance deliveries. The most frequently delivered appliance in all age groups were partial removable dentures (382 456 deliveries). Significantly less deliveries in the oldest age cohort compared to other groups (p < 0.05) suggest that the oldest elderly patients tend to maintain prosthodontic appliances for a longer period than functionally acceptable.

Epidemiological study on removable denture deliveries in different districts of Croatia, 1996-2001 and 2002.

Aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of removable denture (complete and partial) deliveries through Croatian Public Health Service (covered by insurance) in different districts of Croatia and to compare the two periods: 1996 to 2001 and 2002. Number of dentures delivered was obtained from Croatian Institute for Health Insurance for the district of Zagreb, Rijeka, Split and Karlovac. Information of the population living in the same districts was obtained from the National Institute for Statistics. The percentage of fully edentulous inhabitants varied from more than 13% to more than 20%, dependent on the district, while the percentage of partial edentulism reconstructed with removable partial dentures varied from more than 13% to more than 30%. The highest percentage (average for living population) of complete and removable partial dentures was delivered in Zagreb in the both observed periods. In all districts, the number of complete denture wearers increased in 2002, except in Split. The percentage of removable partial denture deliveries increased significantly in all examined districts. Partial and complete denture deliveries increased in higher percentage in population younger than 70 years than in older population. The percentage of metal framework removable partial dentures increased significantly in all districts. The prevalence of removable denture deliveries increased, especially in patients younger than 70 years. This was attributed not only to the consequences of the 1991-1995 war, the migrations from rural to urban areas, decrease of economic status, but also to the new rules of the Croatian Insurance System.

Patients' satisfaction with prosthetic devices.

The purpose of the paper was to ascertain the factors which affect the satisfaction of patients with the prosthetic therapy. The purpose of the paper was also to ascertain if there are common factors characteristic for patients dissatisfied with the prosthetic therapy although the specialist appraises it as objectively successful. 52 patients of the Clinical Institute for Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Devices were participating in the research, to which, after unsuccessful surgical-prosthetic rehabilitation, reamputation and prosthetic provision was carried out, which was appraised successful by the doctor. It was endeavored to appraise to what extent the appraisal by the doctor corresponds to patient's satisfaction. On the basis of the questionnaire elaborated specifically for this research and the statistical processing, it was concluded that where the doctor appraised the prosthetic therapy as successful, the same opinion was shared by the majority of the patients (92.3%). Patients are similarly satisfied with the function and the esthetic quality of the prosthesis (73%). The reason why 7.7% of patients are dissatisfied in cases when the doctor considers that there are no objective reasons for that should be sought in non-medical factors. The age, the education, the marital status, the income state, the size of the residence and the regional affiliation do not have a significant influence on the satisfaction of patients with the prosthesis (p > 0.05). Patients with a minor handicap achieve satisfaction with the prosthetic therapy faster, as well as the right-handed persons if the prosthesis on the right-hand extremity is in question (p < 0.05). This investigation showed that the responsibility of not wearing prosthetic aids, both orthopedic, and dental prostheses, couldn't be only neuroticism by prosthetic patients, because that connection is not statistically significant (p < 0.09).

Qualitative evaluation of elderly home residents' fixed and removable prostheses in relation to the ADL index.

UNLABELLED: Functional diversity and biopsychosocial state is a significant issue, which greatly influences elderly oral health and state of fixed and removable prostheses. OBJECTIVES: The goal of the investigation was to evaluate the quality of fixed and removable prostheses in a group of elderly home residents in relation to the ADL index. METHODS: The group consisted of 175 institutionalised elderly, mean age 76.8 years. Special care need was assessed on ADL scale. To evaluate the quality and need for replacement of fixed and removable prostheses Karlsson's and modified Nevalainen et al. indices were used. RESULTS: Spearman's correlation analysis showed significant correlation of ADL index scores and both Karlsson's index values (rho=-0.468, p<0.01) as well as for modified Nevalainen's indices (rho=-0.572, p<0.01). Lower ADL score was correlated with poorer oral hygiene and condition of fixed or removable dentures. It was determined that 87% of the examined patients were in objective need of fixed, removable or combined prosthodontic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that lower ADL index scores of functionally dependent elderly patients correlate with poorer condition of fixed and removable prostheses and greater need of fixed, removable or combined prosthodontic treatment.