Fazal Ghani, Muhammad Rizwan Memon, Muhammad Shahzad.
Dental Practitioners` Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Occlusal Relations of Complete Dentures.
J Pak Dent Assoc Jan ;22(3):178-84.

Objective: To document knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP), of PMDC registered local dental practition-ers (DPs) regarding some aspects of complete dentures (CDs) occlusal relations. Methodology: DPs (N= 100) responded to 13 aspects of CD occlusion in a pre-structured data sheet. Statement / questions were; DP experiences of patients reliability for detecting occlusal errors, reasons for the lack of intercus-pation between teeth in mouth, clinical methods for detecting occlusal errors, common presentations of soft tissue trauma due to occlusal errors, effect, on denture in mouth, of the discrepancy between maximal intercuspal position (MIP) and retruded contact position (RCP) and acceptable range of the discrepancy from RCP to MIP. There were also statements relating to the most ideal CD occlusal relations and desired tooth contact types, identification of functional cusps, procedure for correcting premature occlusal contacts, identification of clinical situations requiring balanced ar-ticulation and remounting of CDs having occlusal errors. RESULTS: DPs (N=72/100) responded. Upto 30% practice time of 67 (93%) DPs, was devoted to CDs services with only upto 20 CDs/yr made by 69 (95.7%) DPs. Instructions to laboratory were given by 62 (86.1%) DPs. DPs (N=57, 79.1%) had never participated in training or workshop on CDs. DPs (N=51, 70.8%) knew premature contacts in RCP prevent intercuspation. Oral corns on ridge underneath CDs as consequence of occlusal interferences (OIs) was known to 30 (41.6%) DPs. Slide ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 mm from RCP to MIP was acceptable to 45 (62.5%) DPs. Majority 63 (87.5%) felt bilateral occlusal contacts important. Adjustment by spot grinding premature occlusal contacts in RCP was considered by 60, (83.3%) DPs. Conclusion: DPs had inappropriate KAP about some aspects of CD Occlusion. Need for relevant instructions, demonstrations and practical exposure of dental students and of the need for continuing educational programs for ex-isting DPs is emphasized.

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