The effect of removable partial dentures on periodontal health of abutment and non-abutment teeth.

BACKGROUND: A removable partial denture (RPD) is a common treatment available for restoration of partially edentulous ridges. Longitudinal studies indicate that RPDs have been associated with increased gingivitis, periodontitis, and abutment mobility.

METHODS: A total of 205 patients with RPDs participated in this study. There were 80 males and 125 females aged 38 to 89, with 123 maxillary and 138 mandibular RPDs. Patients were wearing existing RPDs for different periods ranging from 1 to 10 years. A two-part questionnaire was devised for this study. In the first part, patients answered questions on gender; age; smoking habits; denture age; denture wearing habits; mouth odor; and problems with food accumulating under the denture base, on the outside surface of the denture, and on the outside surface of remaining teeth after eating. The Kennedy classification, material, denture support, denture base shape, and number of teeth in contact, number of existing clasps, and occlusal rests were categorized. The quality of denture construction was also evaluated. In the second part of the questionnaire, baseline recordings of plaque (PI), gingival (GI), and calculus (CI) indexes were made, and Tarbet index (TI), as well as probing depth (PD), gingival recession (GR), and tooth mobility (TM) were measured, both on abutment and non-abutment teeth.

RESULTS: Significant differences (P <0.01) were noted for PI, Cl, GI, PD, TM, and GR between abutment and non-abutment teeth, with abutment teeth showing more disease.

CONCLUSIONS: RPD design plays an important role in the state of the periodontium. Appropriate design and good oral hygiene may decrease the appearance of periodontal disease.