By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
ScienceabodeScienceabode
  • Home
  • News & Perspective
    News & PerspectiveShow More
    Microorganism that causes rare but severe eye infections detected in NSW coastal areas
    By Admin
    Scientists identify common cause of gastro in young children and adults over 50 years old
    By admin
    AI reveals hidden traits about our planet’s flora to help save species
    By admin
    Eye drops slow nearsightedness progression in kids, study finds
    By admin
    Using AI to create better, more potent medicines
    By admin
  • Latest News
    Latest NewsShow More
    Researchers develop new robot medics for places doctors are unable to be
    By Admin
    Even thinking about marriage gets young people to straighten up
    By admin
    Study: People tend to locate the self in the brain or the heart – and it affects their judgments and decisions
    By admin
    UCLA patient is first to receive successful heart transplant after using experimental 50cc Total Artificial Heart
    By admin
    Via Dying Cells, UVA Finds Potential Way to Control Cholesterol Levels
    By admin
  • Health
    Health
    The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”…
    Show More
    Top News
    Researchers design machine learning models to better predict adolescent suicide and self-harm risk
    September 11, 2023
    Scientists identify evolutionary gateway helping pneumonia bacteria become resistant to antibiotics   
    October 3, 2023
    New research indicates some people may be physically unable to use police breathalysers
    October 3, 2023
    Latest News
    Game-Changer in Emergency Medicine: New AI Test Flags Sepsis Hours Before Symptoms Worsen
    June 4, 2025
    Perfumes and lotions disrupt how body protects itself from indoor air pollutants
    June 3, 2025
    Medical Milestone: Surgeons Perform First-Ever Human Bladder Transplant
    May 20, 2025
    A Downside of Taurine: It Drives Leukemia Growth
    May 19, 2025
  • Environment
    EnvironmentShow More
    Perfumes and lotions disrupt how body protects itself from indoor air pollutants
    By Admin
    Arsenic exposure linked to faster onset of diabetes in south Texas population 
    By Admin
    Antarctica vulnerable to invasive species hitching rides on plastic and organic debris
    By Admin
    New substrate material for flexible electronics could help combat e-waste
    By Admin
    Bacteria ‘nanowires’ could help scientists develop green electronics
    By Admin
  • Infomation
    • Pricavy Policy
    • Terms of Service
  • Jobs
  • Application Submission
Notification Show More
Aa
ScienceabodeScienceabode
Aa
  • Home
  • Health
  • Anatomy
  • Jobs Portal
  • Application Submission
  • Categories
    • Health
    • Anatomy
    • Food & Diet
    • Beauty Lab
    • News & Perspective
    • Environment
  • More Foxiz
    • Blog Index
    • Sitemap
Follow US
Scienceabode > Blog > Health > Hidden challenges of tooth loss and dentures revealed in new study
Health

Hidden challenges of tooth loss and dentures revealed in new study

Admin
Last updated: 2024/07/04 at 2:36 AM
By Admin
Share
7 Min Read
SHARE

The hidden challenges faced by people with tooth loss and dentures has been identified by new research from the University of Sheffield.

Improvements in dental care, more people living longer and the social value placed on having a healthy smile has led to people keeping their own teeth longer, but it has also led to an increasing number of people needing some kind of restoration work including crowns, bridges and implants.

Many of these treatments remain unobtainable for most people due to the availability of NHS dentists and the high cost of private dental work. Removable dentures are often the only viable option for anyone experiencing tooth loss with an estimated 10 to 15 percent of the population wearing them.

A new study by researchers at the University of Sheffield’s Healthy Life Span Institute and the School of Clinical Dentistry has highlighted the emotional struggles and hidden challenges patients experience when having dentures fitted. This is the first study to map out the patient journey and how this experience can affect the overall success of the treatment.

- Advertisement -
MedBanner_Skyscraper_160x600_03/2018

The study found that patients think about their denture journey in four stages:

Tooth Loss: This is the initial stage where patients experience the physical loss of teeth.
The Emotional Tunnel: This stage focuses on the emotional rollercoaster of tooth loss. Patients experience self-consciousness, depression, and struggle with dentures. They may feel shame, anger, or fear, but also hope.
Prosthetic Hope: This stage represents the hope and optimism patients feel when getting dentures. They might anticipate regaining their smile and ability to eat normally.
Prosthetic Compromise leading to managing disclosure: This final stage acknowledges that dentures take some getting used to. Patients might need to adjust their expectations and learn how to manage talking and eating with dentures. They might also develop strategies to feel comfortable disclosing their denture use to others.
These feelings and how dentists understand and manage them can influence the patient outcomes. A dentist’s empathy during this adjustment period is crucial for successful denture use and better patient outcomes.

The study also identified that wearing removable dentures can be a hidden disability for many. People with dentures feel they have to hide them due to feeling embarrassed or worrying they will fall out. Some patients also avoided social situations

Lead researcher Barry Gibson, Professor in Medical Sociology at the University of Sheffield said “Tooth loss can be hugely traumatic and this study has uncovered just how challenging it is for people needing partial dentures. Feelings such as embarrassment or shame can significantly affect the process of having dentures made and fitted. On top of this if they don’t fit properly this can make everyday activities such as speaking, eating and drinking very difficult which affects a person’s quality of life. The impact can be so dramatic that it can impact their confidence to leave the house. This can have a devastating and lasting impact.

“Understanding the emotional difficulties identified in the study will help dentists to improve the care given to denture patients and lead to a more successful and better experience for everyone”

The research team partnered with local Sheffield artist Gina Allen to create an art piece reflecting the diverse emotional journeys of denture wearers.

The picture is a collage that illustrates the type of journeys patients go through from tooth loss to life with a denture. It uses colour to depict the emotional nature of the journey and demonstrates that all patients have a unique journey and outcome from the experience. One patient, a young woman, has a successful outcome; a middle-aged man is OK but a bit ‘Meh!’ An older woman continues to struggle to cope with some aspects of adapting to her denture.

Artist Gina Allen said “I’m a visual artist with a science background and a particular interest in how art can help to explore and interpret data, often around social and environmental themes. It seemed to me that there was such a depth and variety of individual experiences captured by the research team on this project, so it was a really interesting challenge to be involved in, trying to use the visual parameters of an artwork to convey some of that in an engaging and meaningful way.”

This collaboration has influenced the development of a new patient questionnaire designed to:

Identify Individual Needs: Tailor care based on specific patient experiences.
Improve Communication: Enable dentists and patients to have open conversations about dentures.
Trigger Follow-Up: Identify patients who may need additional support.
In addition to identifying the emotional challenges faced by patients, the study also highlights the need for a clinical care pathway to improve patient support, focus on improving denture fit, educate patients about denture care, and combat the shame and stigma associated with wearing dentures.

Mr Bilal El-Dhuwaib, Clinical Teacher in Restorative Dentistry at the University of Sheffield, said: “This study is important because it goes beyond the typical numbers-driven approach to dentistry by looking at crucial aspects of patients’ emotions and lived experiences. By understanding the psychological and social impact of tooth loss and replacement, the research provides a valuable toolkit for myself and fellow dentists to better understand and address the emotional rollercoaster patients navigate during this process. By equipping dentists with the tools to understand these challenges, we can create a more compassionate and effective approach to tooth replacement.”

The research team is seeking further funding to validate the questionnaire and develop a comprehensive clinical pathway for denture care. This pathway aims to improve patient outcomes and address the hidden struggles faced by denture wearers.

Source: University of Sheffield

Published on July 4, 2024

TAGGED: dentistry, dentures
Admin July 4, 2024 July 4, 2024
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print

Fast Four Quiz: Precision Medicine in Cancer

How much do you know about precision medicine in cancer? Test your knowledge with this quick quiz.
Get Started
Even in Winter, Life Persists in Arctic Seas

(USCGC Healy breaking through the Bering Sea waves. Credit: Chantelle Rose/NSF)   Despite…

A Biodiversity Discovery That Was Waiting in the Wings–Wasp Wings, That Is

Wing size differences between two Nasonia wasp species are the result of…

Entertainement

Coming soon

Your one-stop resource for medical news and education.

Your one-stop resource for medical news and education.
Sign Up for Free

You Might Also Like

Game-Changer in Emergency Medicine: New AI Test Flags Sepsis Hours Before Symptoms Worsen

By Admin

Perfumes and lotions disrupt how body protects itself from indoor air pollutants

By Admin
Health

Medical Milestone: Surgeons Perform First-Ever Human Bladder Transplant

By Admin

A Downside of Taurine: It Drives Leukemia Growth

By Admin
Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram
Company
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contact US
  • Feedback
  • Advertisement
More Info
  • Newsletter
  • Beauty Lab
  • News & Perspective
  • Food & Diet
  • Health
  • Environment
  • Anatomy

Sign Up For Free

Subscribe to our newsletter and don't miss out on our programs, webinars and trainings.

Copyright © 2023 ScienceAbode. All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by Spirelab Solutions (Pvt) Ltd

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?