Dentures are a physical solution to a physical problem–missing teeth–but the degree of satisfaction you get from your dentures can depend heavily on your personality. Dentists have identified several factors that could influence your denture satisfaction level.
Psychological Drives
In order to be satisfied with your dentures, they have to facilitate, or at least not interfere with, the things that matter most to you.
Partly, this means that dentures shouldn’t interfere with things like your ability to eat. But, once we get past the basic functional questions, dentures should help with psychological drives such as an individual’s needs for:
- Order and control in life
- Feelings of competency
- Security
- Social approval
- Love and romance
- Self-enhancement and personal growth
Dentures that aren’t functional, don’t stay in place, lead to health problems, or are unattractive can interfere with many of these personal aspirations. They can contribute to the feeling of being aged and infirm, making life with dentures very unsatisfying.
Personality Types
Some dentists have sought to characterize denture patients according to various personal characteristics. One such scheme broke denture patients down into four types:
- Philosophical
- Exacting
- Hysterical
- Indifferent
Philosophical patients are those most favored by dentists. They pay attention to their oral health and may anticipate the need for dentures. They understand why dentists make certain recommendations and try to follow them. These patients have the best results with dentures.
Exacting patients may be in poor health and require dental work, but they may make unrealistic demands of dentists, including trying to save “hopeless” teeth. They may make numerous demands of dentists to ensure quality treatment, but are unwilling to pay additional costs associated with accommodating such demands. These patients can sometimes get good results, but it’s less likely.
Hysterical patients have neglected their oral health, possibly because they are afraid of dentists. These patients haven’t researched dentures and may have unrealistic expectations. They may try dentures, but will likely have a poor result because they aren’t willing to do what is necessary to achieve denture success.
Indifferent patients don’t care much about appearance and function of dentures. They may or may not use dentures. Whether they get dentures or not, they are unlikely to complain because they are indifferent.
The above personality types were obviously invented by dentists. Using the more traditional personality types A, B, and AB, dentists found that people with type A personality have the lowest denture satisfaction.
How to Get the Best Satisfaction from Your Dentures
If you are looking for the most satisfying denture experience, there are several steps you can take to be satisfied with your dentures.
First, have reasonable expectations for your dentures.
Second, select a quality denture dentist. Not all dentists are trained in providing high quality dentures. Many dentists are content to give low-quality cheap dentures. These are unlikely to provide satisfaction.
Third, talk to your dentist about your expectations and goals for denture treatment.
Finally, choose quality dentures that are capable of meeting your goals. If you are really demanding of your dentures, implant dentures and/or FOY ® Dentures are the ones most likely to help you meet your goals.
To get true denture satisfaction in Columbia, SC, please call (803) 781-9090 today for an appointment with denture dentists at Smile Columbia Dentistry.
