Different Classification Systems Of Complete Denture Patients

Different Classification Systems Of Complete Denture Patients

Question. Classify the mental attitude of a complete denture patient and how it can be managed.
Answer:

The mental attitude of a patient was classified by Milus House and it has four classes.

1. Philosophic: These patients accept the treatment plan without question. They accept their oral situation and have an ideal attitude for successful treatment, provided the biomechanical factors are reasonably favorable.

2. Indifferent: Indifferent patients have little concern for their teeth or oral health. They often seek treatment because of family pressure and have no appreciation for the efforts of their dentist. They refuse to wear dentures if post-insertion problems are encountered. Indifferent patients require more time to adjust to the use of dentures. Their attitude can discourage the dentist.

3. Critical: They are quick to criticize the dentist at every stage of treatment planning. These patients will bring with them a collection of dentures pointing out faults in every denture made so far.

Read And Learn More: Complete Dentures Question and Answers

• These patients should be identified at the first appointment for a revision of their attitude. These patients generally have poor health which affects their overall personalities.
• Medical consultation is always advisable for critical patients before treatment is started. The dentist should always direct all treatment and make decisions without patient involvement.
• These patients are a challenge to the dentist to complete treatment procedures that satisfy the patient, but their successful treatment can be most rewarding.

4. Sceptical

• These are patients who have had bad results with previous treatment and are therefore doubtful if anyone can help them. They also might be going through a recent series of personal tragedies not directly related to their denture problems.
• They have a negative outlook on life and doubt the ability of anyone to help them with their problems. They are often in poor health, with severely resorbed residual ridges and other unfavorable conditions. They try to be good patients, but their problems seem countless.
• They need kind and sympathetic help as much as they need new dentures. A careful and thorough examination can be the start of successful treatment.
• The dentist should take more time than usual in making examinations of skeptical patients, by which he can gain the confidence of these patients.

Identifying These Patients

• From the initial appointment onwards the mental attitude of the patient can be analysed. Some patients keep on talking without listening to what the dentist has to say, others cry during talking, and some criticize the previous dentist, or even suggest treatment planning.
• Apart from the patient cooperation and trust in the dentist, prosthodontic therapy for edentulous patients could be indicated as follows
• The prosthodontic experience demands technical and patient management skills, which help in understanding the patient’s mental attitude. Attitude studies showed that many of these patients score highly on indices of neuroticism.
• Neurosis is regarded as a chronic anxiety state at the physiologic level and is known to affect the performance of tasks requiring neuromuscular coordination. Whatever may be the type of patient,

1. A proper diagnosis and treatment planning.
2. Careful and thorough examination identifying the type of patient and gaining the confidence of the patient.
3. The duration of the time the patient has been edentulous to be noted, as the longer the period greater the problem encountered in the treatment procedure.
4. Other factors such as residual ridge resorption, ridge form, accurate impression procedures, and accuracy in each clinical step are factors that will aid in adequate retention of dentures thereby providing patient satisfaction