Findings of several studies show a higher tooth loss in females than males.4�C7,11 In contrast, within the UK population, tooth loss was similar in the two gender groups.8 The present study is about prosthetic needs with regard once to the national pattern of decreasing edentulism in Turkey. It was determined that socioeconomic status and low educational level were negatively associated with edentulism; this conclusion is similar to the results of previous studies.1,2,9,12,23 Studies of removable dentures wearers revealed that between 20% and 30% were dissatisfied with one or both dentures. For new and well-constructed dentures, between 10% and 15% of the patients were still dissatisfied.24,25 Silverman et al26 claimed that males accepted their dentures best.

Barenthin27 found that women were somewhat more sensitive than men to the condition of their dentures. In the current study, the data indicated that women (46.8%) and men (42.4%) were satisfied with their dentures. When gender and the complaints from dentures were evaluated together, there did not seem to be a significant difference between maladjustment and broken denture complaints. The complaints about aesthetics were seen mostly among females. The reasons of tooth loss and denture incompatibility did not depend on gender. In this case, the patients requested denture treatment only when necessary. John et al28 reported that partial dentures were more tolerable than their complete counterparts. If the prior denture types and the patient complaints were evaluated together, patients wearing partial dentures were generally pleased with the conservatism and functionality expected from partial dentures.

The older age groups in the present study required more removable complete dentures than the younger age groups, who required more removable partial dentures. Patients who used complete dentures had various complaints, including maladjustment, incompatibility and excessive moving of total dentures. This is an expected situation because total dentures are only tissue supported. In the prosthetic treatment decision making process, a patient-clinician dialogue is important in achieving an optimal treatment result. If expensive prosthetic treatments (e.g. implant treatments) are made financially available for all individuals by means of subsidies, this can influence the existing needs and create a new need among the population.

The results also showed that the education level of patients who applied at the OHC for treatment were at primary or secondary school levels. Most of the patients who applied at the university clinic had secondary school or a university Brefeldin_A degree. In the previous studies, the patients who had no education had a total denture and other education levels had a partial denture. Also, previous studies have reported the same-association between educational levels and general and/or oral health.