Abstract

The results are as following. This study aimed to furnish basic data for improving the oral health of the elderly by conducting research into the relationship between denture satisfaction and the perceived oral health status of elderly people with removable dentures. The study performed research involving 246 elderly people who were living in Jeonju and Iksan, jeonbuk, and who were 65 years old or over from August 1 to December 5, 2007. The research method was a face-to-face interview. 1. The denture satisfaction of respondents for the research averaged $3.74{\pm}0.69$, and there was a significant difference in their satisfaction according to the level of education, the cohabitant family type, the procurement of living expenses, the performance of leisure activity, the period of current denture use, the number of denture changes, the experience during a dentist visit for denture maintenance, the experience of restricted activity due to annual oral diseases, and the opinions about denture prices. 2. 48.8% of respondents answered that their oral health status was good, and there was a significant difference in their satisfaction according to the procurement of living expenses, the total period of denture use, the period of current denture use, the number of denture changes, the experience of restricted activity due to annual oral diseases, and the opinions about denture prices. 3. The most highly influential variable affecting denture satisfaction was the opinions about denture prices(R=33.7%). 4. The most highly influential variable affecting the perceived oral health status was the educational level(R=17.3%). 5. As a result of analyzing the relationship between denture satisfaction and perceived oral health status, more respondents were satisfied with their dentures the more they thought their oral health status was in good shape.

Keywords

• Denture satisfaction;
• perceived oral health status