Table 2.
Themes and quotes.
| Thematic framework components and quotes | Codes | Categories | Subthemes | Themes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Importance of oral health | ||||
| I feel it (tooth loss) is a normal process. What I feel is that it is due to age also, and maybe, I’m not cleaning properly. | Perceived notion that teeth will fall off with age | Age-related natural process | Perceptions of the tooth loss phenomenon | 1 |
| Problems without teeth | ||||
| I couldn’t smile properly during the healing period for around 20 days. I didn’t attend functions for sometime since it was my front teeth. When I lost my lower teeth, it didn’t affect much… I used to be careful while talking. |
Self conscious about appearance and speech Did not socialize |
Embarrassment in public | Psychosocial impact of edentulism | 1 |
| Denture experiences | ||||
| With the upper denture, I used to have pain. The skin used to peel off when I wore it. I used to find it difficult initially but later got used to it. |
Painful ulceration Adapted over time |
Denture problems | Initial adaptation to dentures | 2 |
| I can eat anything that you say. Even hard food. After going back home, I can video call and show you, or even make a video and upload it on YouTube. |
Able to eat hard food Can prove it to anyone |
Pleased with dentures | Benefits of wearing dentures | |
| I feel natural teeth are better. I feel the difference. Natural is always natural and it’s God gift…Food gets stuck in the denture but not in natural teeth. | Regret having to wear dentures | Unhappy with dentures | Disadvantages of dentures | |
| Denture usage | ||||
| I don’t feel it necessary to wear the denture at home. I mainly wear it to cover the hole when I smile. | Denture not worn at home | Denture use | Denture wearing habits | 3 |
| Dentists’ attitude | ||||
| I put denture in the mouth my words were not coming out properly. I told him that I do not like his work..so he replied that “this is how it will be.. whatever measurement you have given, it is according to that”. I did not wear the denture. I just used it for one or two days…I threw it... he made me a fool. | Not happy with the dentist’s attitude and work | Indifference of dentists towards patient complaints | Patient dentist relationship | 4 |
| Treatment options | ||||
| I feel the removing one is better. I feel it is easy to clean and I feel fixed dentures are very dangerous. | Better maintenance of removable dentures | Removable dentures better than fixed | Perceptions about removable dentures | 5 |
| I didn’t want fixed because I feel that I will have some problem because of it. I feel it will painful. |
Afraid of fixed dentures Fixed dentures cause pain |
Problems with fixed dentures | Deterrents for fixed denture treatment | |
Themes: 1. Transition from dentulous to partial or completely edentulous state; 2. Varying experiences with the use of dentures; 3. Convenience and duration of wearing dentures; 4. Attitude of dentists towards patients complaints; 5. Knowledge and preference of available treatment modalities.