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Survey of the dental state and needs of a group of elderly army pensioners in England
Author(s) -
Davidson Peter N.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1979.tb01239.x
Subject(s) - dentures , medicine , dentistry , plea , population , family medicine , environmental health , law , political science
375 army pensioners (89% of the population of the Royal Hospital Chelsea) were interviewed and given a dental inspection. The quality of any denture was assessed by K apur 's method. Of the 318 men with dentures 254 (85%) had not been back to the dentist since and 60% of the dentures were over 10 years old. 244 denture wearers claimed they were satisfied although only 11 dentures could be rated ‘good’ and 67% of complete dentures were ‘poor’. 25% of those interviewed actually wanted treatment, 10% did not know but the majority simply ‘couldn't be bothered’. The overwhelming need is for skilled prosthetic treatment. A plea is made for educating patients to appreciate that dentures should be changed and that regular dental inspections are necessary throughout life.