The Significance of Knowledge, Instructions, Habits and Denture Hygiene Practice in Relation to the Maintenance of Denture Hygiene at Hospital USM’s Dental Clinic

Abstract

Good denture hygiene is crucial for the prevention of various periodontal diseases, dental caries and dental stomatitis, which can give rise to a negative impact on the general health of denture users. A comparison exercise was conducted, to determine the effectiveness of information on denture care, provided by different groups of dental personnel. A self-administered and structured questionnaire was distributed to patients who attended Hospital USM’s dental clinics, from 2014 to 2019 based on the attendance register of the clinic. The denture hygiene status of 100 participants was assessed during the interview session. The results derived through the questionnaire revealed that 100% of the respondents, who received both verbal and written instructions, practiced good dental hygiene. It was observed that the most effective instructions received by the respondents were delivered by the dental specialists. Respondents, who clean their dentures with denture cleaning tablets, soap, or denture cleaning paste, were observed to possess better denture hygiene than those who do not. Also, respondents who visit their dentists once every six months for routine dental examinations boasted a higher percentage of good denture hygiene (81.8%). A positive association was perceived, between knowledge and the status of denture hygiene.