engleski

Trends of removable denture deliveries in Croatia through a period between 1996-2002

Objectives of this study was to compare the prevalence of complete and partial denture deliveries (CD and RPD) through the Public Health Service (covered by insurance) in different regions in Croatia during 2002. year with the period between 1996 and 2001 year. Number of delivered dentures was obtained from the statistical data of the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance for the Region of Zagreb, Rijeka, Split and Karlovac. Information of the population living in the same regions was obtained from the National Institute for Statistics. The dentures were divided in 4 groups: CDs, acrylic RPDs with less than 10 teeth, acrylic RPDs with more than 10 teeth and metal framework RPDs. The highest percentage (average for living population) of CDs and RPDs was delivered in Zagreb in both observed periods. In all regions, the number of new CDs increased significantly in 2002, except in Split. Unfortunatelly, the percentage of all new RPDs also increased in all regions. The percentage of acrylic RPDs with less than 10 teeth decreased and the percentage of metal framework RPDs significantly increased in all regions (p<.05) in 2002. year. We assessed that the percentage of inhabitants wearing at least one CD vary between 13% and 20%, dependent on the region. Partial edentulism reconstructed with RPDs vary between 13 and 30%. Factors influencing these trends are discussed in the paper. Increased number of new RPD deliveries could be attributed to the fact that the Insurance coveres full cost of RPDs and does not cover any cost for fixed partial dentures (FPD) between the age of 18 and 70 years. Therefore, population with low economic status might have cost-barriers for FPDs and therefore the decision may be made that they receive RPDs.

complete dentures; removable partial dentures

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