Clinical assessment of common complaints among complete dentures wearers, in relation to, age and gender

Background: Growth of the aging population will presumably increase the edentulous population in need of care with complete den¬ture prostheses. Complete dentures are the most common form of prosthetics rehabilitation for edentulism. A major challenge in dental practice continues to be the successful management of the complete denture patient who experi¬ences ongoing difficulty with his or her dentures. 
Objective: The objective of this study was to examine and assess complete dentures in patients experiencing difficulties with their new prostheses, and to determine the most frequent complaints, and their possible relation to age and gender. 
Patients and Methods: A total number of 200 complete denture wearer patients, 126 females and 74 males, participated in this study. A questionnaire were used to record the information which was taken directly from the patient when they attend the dental hospital for dental visit, the patient consent were taken verbally. The information include; the gender, the age, , and the type of the complaint, All the patients' complaint and dentures were examined and assessed clinically by one prosthodontics specialist to approve these complaints.  The age was divided into two groups, up to 60 years, and above 60 years. The patient complaints were divided into; pain, speech, eating, loose, and food accumulation. The data were correlated, statistical analysis in the form of tables, figure, numbers, and percentage were used, at a significant level of (P<0.05).  
Results: The study result revealed that; female number 126 ( 63%) was more than male 74 (37%), the number of the patients within the age group of above 60 years was 158( 79%), more than patients within the age group of up to 60 years 42  (21%). Significant difference were found between gender and age groups (P < 0.05).  
Pain 54 (27%) was the most common complaint of most of the patients in both genders, 23 (6.5%) for male and 31 (15.5%) for females. Loose denture complaint had the lowest number among male 10 (5%), while complaint relating to mastication and eating had the lowest number among females 18 (9%). No significant difference were found between gender and type of complaints (P> 0. 05). Speech problem had the highest incidence among patients within the age group of up to 60 years 11 (5.5%), while the highest incidence among patients within the age group of above 60 years, were pain complaint 45 (22.5%).  Complaint relating to eating and mastication had the lowest incidence among both age groups in total 34 (17%). No significant difference were found between age group and type of complaints (P > 0. 05).
Conclusion: Pain during insertion, removing, and wearing a complete denture had the highest prevalence, alongside speech problem in one age group only.  Significant difference was found between gender and age group. No statistical significant difference were found between gender and type of complaints, or between age groups and type of complaints.