A clinical audit of denture cleanliness in general dental practice undertaken in the West Midlands

Abstract

The aims of the study were to develop a method of quantifying denture cleanliness and evaluate the quality of clinical record keeping; record baseline denture cleanliness for 30 patients; introduce denture hygiene instruction (DHI); and then re-assess the patients for improvement and enhanced record keeping. A retrospective analysis of denture hygiene instruction record keeping was undertaken (n = 30). A bespoke denture cleanliness index (DCI) was developed for assessing denture cleanliness (best score 0, worst score 4). Baseline DCI scores were taken and individual DHI was delivered. Patients were reviewed and scored after 1 month, together with a further analysis of record keeping. At baseline, 16% (n = 5) of patients had DCI scores of ≤2, improving to 90% (n = 27) after 1 month, demonstrating short term improvement in denture cleanliness. Only 20% (n = 6) of patients had evidence of a record of DHI within their notes at baseline, improving to 100% at recall. The bespoke denture cleanliness index (DCI) worked well as a simple objective clinical measurement and patient education tool. Provision of tailored DHI resulted in the general improvement of denture cleanliness after 1 month. The authors recommend that where denture hygiene has been issued, this should be recorded in the records as 'DHI' within the clinical notes, in a manner analogous to the recording of oral hygiene.