Knowledge and Perception of Flexible Dentures among Dental Private practitioners in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Abstract

Prescription of flexible denture (FD) is non preference by the clinician in Ministry of Health Malaysia and it was not included in the curriculum of public university. However, among private dental practitioner (PDP) this treatment modality is highly favourable. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge and perception on the flexible dentures by the PDP. The level of perception and knowledge on FD was analysed using validated questionnaire. 42 PDP had participated. An independent t-test was employed to determine the statistical difference between genders. One Way ANOVA was used to evaluate the statistical difference between their years of experience in private sector on knowledge and perception of flexible denture. There was no significant different in knowledge between female and male (p=0.892) and years of experience (p=0.617). Perceptions of flexible denture, was not significantly influence by genders (p=0.068) but by year of experiences between group A and B (p=0.039), and between group B and group C (p=0.039). P value was set at 0.05. In conclusion, there is a correlation between perceptions of flexible denture and years of experience of private dental practitioner.