The top 10 things denture wearers told us about their dentures

An independent study was recently conducted to determine patients’ satisfaction with their current dentures, changes or improvements they would like in the future, familiarity with various esthetic options, source of denture information, and final purchase potential.

Additionally, this survey examined patients’ perceptions regarding reason for change of denture, denture longevity, cleaning/maintenance habits, and overall cost.

Below are the top 10 findings gathered from the survey, which had 426 responses…

1. Overall, 48% of participants stated that they were unhappy with their current denture.

2. The survey determined that 45% of patients were dissatisfied with their current dentures because of poor fit, pain, and/or size, while 11% were dissatisfied because of the dentures’ poor and unnatural appearance.

3. In terms of denture longevity, 58% of those surveyed had only ever owned one denture and 51% felt that dentures should last between five and 10 years.

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4. Only 5% of those surveyed were completely satisfied with their dentures. The two largest categories for improvement were in comfort of their dentures (77%) and appearance (49%).

5. When asked when they would get a new denture, 36% of participants responded in less than a year, while the next highest group (13%) stated that they would receive a new denture when their dentist determines that their current denture needs to be replaced.

6. Although 17% of those surveyed paid more than $4,000 for their current denture, the majority (58%) of participants paid between $600 and $2,500. When asked how much they would pay for a denture that met all of their expectations, 18% still remained at more than $4,000. However, 57% said they would now pay between $1,500 and $4,000.

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7. With about half of those surveyed dissatisfied with their dentures, 46% of patients said they would change the facial appearance or support of their dentures, 42% would change the tooth position, and 38% would alter the gums, as the pink acrylic does not look natural.

8. Although there are a variety of dentures available, 54% of surveyed patients were not given options for their current dentures by their dentist as far as quality or materials. Additionally, 47% of patients stated that they were not familiar with the various options in quality and esthetics for dentures.

9. Many times the cost associated with dentures is the limiting factor for patients and 63% of those surveyed indicated that they would pay more for a denture that looks like natural teeth, 76% said they would pay more for a denture that fits better, and 71% said they would pay more for a denture that resists staining, plaque, odor absorption, and bacterial growth.

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10. Those surveyed used two primary sources to gain information about dentures - 74% of patients spoke with their dentist and 74% used an online search. Additionally, the patients indicated that it would be extremely useful when researching dentures to use personal stories (59%); pictures, videos, and tutorials (54%); opinions of experts (35%); and product or material information (35%).

Conclusion

This survey demonstrates that about 95% of patients may be dissatisfied with their current dentures and lack the education or choice when selecting the appropriate denture. The two most important features in denture satisfaction appear to be comfort and esthetics. Additionally, although about one-third of respondents are looking to replace their existing dentures within the year, most patients use their dentist and the Internet as their primary information sources.

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