Contributor  / Country – Institution

Assoc. Prof. L. Marchini (moderator) / Sao Paolo, Brazil
Prof. F. Müller / Geneva, Switzerland
Prof. M. MacEntee / Vancouver, Canada
Prof. C. de Baat / Nimejen, Netherlands
Prof. T. Narhi / Turku, Finland
Assoc. Prof.  V. Anastassiadou / Thessaloniki, Greece

Title

Variables related to patient satisfaction with complete dentures

The rapid worldwide growth of the elderly population is more and more accompanied by an increasingly strong conviction that the quality of life of the elderly adults is an important issue. There is scientific evidence that adequate oral health care and rehabilitation contribute toward this goal, improving not only the overall oral function and health but also their psychological well-being and their social relationships. Complete dentures are still one of the most widely used therapies to rehabilitate edentulous individuals worldwide. Recent evidence indicates that patients' satisfaction with their dentures is the most important indicator of the success of the therapy. Patient satisfaction, however, seems to be more closely related to psychological and psychosocial variables inherent to the patient than to technical factors.

During this round table, seven important topics related to patients' satisfaction with their dentures will be discussed by experienced speakers:

Retention and stability - Prof. Cees de Baat - The Netherlands

Aesthetical aspects - Assoc Prof. Vasso Anastassiadou - Greece

The known alternative: the implant-supported overdenture - Prof. Timo Narhi - Finland

Cultural differences in patients' responses to prosthetic therapies - Prof. Michael MacEntee - Canada

Medical conditions in frail elderly - Prof. Frauke Müller - Switzerland

Patients' expectations - Prof. Leonardo Marchini - Brazil