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Smith PW, McCord JF J Dent 2004; 32: 3–7

In this study, 125 complete denture patients treated in 2 general practices (GDP) and 89 treated in a dental hospital (DH) answered a questionnaire on important complete denture features which had been developed with a pilot group of 10 such patients. Subjects were asked whether they considered these features to be essential or merely desirable. A further question asked whether subjects would like further information on denture construction and care of dentures and the mouth.

Significantly fewer GDP patients considered 'no pain', 'no slackness' and a 'good bite' to be essential, but at least 4/5 of both groups felt that 'easy to chew', 'good appearance' and 'speech unaffected' to be essential. The characteristic 'good bite' was incorporated in the questionnaire as a result of the pilot, but it was not certain what patients understood by the term. The authors considered that treatment planning should take into account the different expectations of GDP and DH patients, and asked whether DH expectations played a part in referral.