Archives

Introduction: Tooth loss can profoundly affect an individual’s physical, psychological, and social well-being. It can lead to reduced confidence, compromised speech, altered facial appearance, and restricted food choices. Although dental prostheses can restore function and esthetics, the decision to replace missing teeth is influenced by factors such as knowledge, attitude, socioeconomic conditions, and motivation. Understanding patients’ perceptions toward tooth replacement helps clinicians improve prosthesis acceptance and treatment outcomes.

Objective: To assess the awareness, attitude, and practice regarding replacement of missing teeth among patients attending the dental outpatient department (OPD) of Kathmandu Medical College.

Methodology: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted from April to September 2023 among 220 patients aged ≥18 years presenting with one or more missing teeth. Convenience sampling was used. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21. Descriptive statistics were applied to summarize sociodemographic variables, awareness levels, reasons for non-replacement, and preferences for prosthetic options.

Result: Of the 220 participants, 47.7% were male and 52.3% female; the majority (65.5%) were above 40 years of age. Most participants (69.5%) had been edentulous for less than five years, with dental caries (60.9%) being the primary cause of tooth loss. The main reasons for not replacing missing teeth were lack of knowledge (32.7%), lack of time (30.5%), and financial constraints (24.1%). Awareness of the importance of tooth replacement was reported by 73.2% of respondents, while 50.9% were aware of available treatment modalities. Among these, 65.2% knew about fixed partial dentures (FPD), 19.6% about removable partial dentures (RPD), and 13.4% about implants. Regarding preference, 42.7% favored FPD, 42.3% preferred RPD, and 15% relied on the dentist’s recommendation.

Conclusion: Although the majority of participants were aware of the importance of replacing missing teeth, nearly half lacked knowledge about available prosthetic options. Lack of awareness, time, and financial limitations were the main barriers to tooth replacement. Educational and motivational programs are essential to enhance patient understanding and improve the utilization of prosthodontic services.

Fixed partial denture; prosthesis awareness; patient motivation; removable partial denture; tooth loss.