Patient Satisfaction Among Complete and Partial Removable Denture Wearers: A Questionnaire Survey

IntroductionPatient satisfaction is an important outcome for evaluating the success of removable prosthodontic rehabilitation.However, satisfaction may differ according to the type of prosthesis and change as patients adapt to their dentures.This study aimed to compare patient satisfaction among complete and removable partial denture (RPD) wearers at prosthesis delivery and after three months of use and to evaluate changes in satisfaction over this period. Materials and methodsA prospective questionnaire-based study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics in a hospital in India in 2024.In total, 780 patients were included, comprising 455 complete removable denture and 325 RPD wearers.A 10-item patient-satisfaction questionnaire assessing the functional, comfort-related, esthetic, and psychosocial domains was administered at prosthesis delivery and after three months.Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and chi-square or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. ResultsAt prosthesis delivery, RPD wearers reported higher total satisfaction than complete removable denture wearers, with median scores of 37 and 34, respectively (p<0.001).After three months, satisfaction increased to 41 and 40, respectively, and the between-group difference was no longer significant (p=0.081).The improvement in satisfaction was significant in both groups (p<0.001) and was greater among complete removable denture wearers.The questionnaire demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach's α of 0.91 at delivery and 0.94 after three months. ConclusionPatient satisfaction improved significantly during the first three months of removable denture use.Although RPD wearers showed greater initial satisfaction, the difference largely diminished following adaptation, highlighting the importance of follow-up and patient-centered prosthodontic care.