Introduction:

the removable dental prostheses is a rehabilitation treatment that returns the functions to the stomatognathic system; for its successful action it is necessary responsibility and commitment between the professional and the patient on hygiene and mode of use.

Objective:

to determine the hygienic condition of the removable acrylic prostheses in patients attended in the dental clinics at San Gregorio de Portoviejo University in the period March - August 2019.

Method:

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a validated questionnaire and observation worksheet. All participants in the research provided handwritten signature informed consent form before answering the questionnaire and being examined. Descriptive statistics, frequency and percentage were applied.

Results:

a total of 100 patients were evaluated, with higher prevalence in females (74%), and 50 years of age or more (54%). The results show that 53% of the patients use prostheses made for five or more years, and 94% have not attended subsequent checks. The mechanical method (86%) is the most used to sanitize the prostheses, and in 65% of the prostheses was observed accumulation of bacterial plaque and food debris. Most patients (78%) wear their prostheses throughout the day (24 hours) and about half have clinical signs of subprosthetic stomatitis (46%).

Conclusions:

Most patients do not comply with the rules of hygiene and use of removable prostheses so a change is needed in their education and monitoring.

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