AWARENESS AND ATTITUDES OF TOOTH REPLACEMENT OPTIONS AMONG PARTIALLY DENTATE PATIENTS WITHIN BRUNEI-MUARA DISTRICT: A PILOT STUDY.
Mohammad Najmuddin JIHADI1, Sarah SANI1, 2, Amrutha DESHIKACHAR3, Jagjit Singh DHALIWAL1.
1Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah (PAPRSB) Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong BE1410, Brunei Darussalam.
2National Dental Centre, Old Airport, Berakas, BB3113, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.
3Jubli Perak Sengkurong Health Centre, Kilometer 16, Jalan Tutong, Kampong Sengkurong, Bandar Seri Begawan, BG3122, Brunei Darussalam.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: This pilot study aimed to assess awareness of tooth replacement options and attitudes towards tooth replacement of partially dentate patients within Brunei-Muara District of Brunei Darussalam. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional sample of partially dentate patients attending government dental clinics in Brunei-Muara district was recruited to answer a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of nine close-ended and multiple-choice questions on sociodemographic information, and tooth replacement option awareness and attitudes. Collected data was analyzed using RStudio 1.2.1335 (for Windows) for descriptive statistics along with the chi-square test and fisher’s exact test. Results: A total of 179 participants were recruited in this study. A large number (87.7%) of the patients were willing to replace their missing teeth. Most participants were aware of the removable prosthesis (80.0%), followed by implant-supported prostheses (41.9%) and tooth-supported bridges (25.1%). Younger aged participants and the ones with higher level of education were significantly more aware of tooth-supported bridges. Participants with higher education were also significantly more aware of implant-supported prostheses. Most of the participants reported that they gained information about tooth replacement options from Dental professionals. Conclusion: There were favourable responses towards attitude for tooth replacement among partially dentate patients in the Brunei-Muara district. Within the limitations of this pilot study, the findings can be used to gauge the treatment needs of the partially dentate patients in Brunei-Muara district of Brunei Darussalam.
Keywords: Awareness, Attitude, Brunei, Dental Prosthesis, Tooth loss.
Corresponding author: Awang Mohammad Najmuddin Bin Awang Jihadi, Bachelor of Health Science (Dentistry) student, PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link Gadong, BE1410, Negara Brunei Darussalam.
Tel: +673 7227350; Email: mdnaj.ubd@gmail.com
Brunei Int Med J.2021;17:70-76