Adverse Effects of Removable Partial Dentures on Periodontal Status and Oral Health of Partially Edentulous Patients

Objective: To compare differences in caries and periodontal scores between removable partial denture wearers and non wearers; abutment with non-abutment teeth in the wearers and wearers with “satisfactory” to those with “unsatisfactory” dentures. Methods: Ninety-six partially dentate patients were included in this study. Teeth were examined for caries and periodontal diseases. Removable partial dentures were evaluated for material, stability, retention and occlusion. Comparisons were made between wearers versus non-wearers regarding abutment versus nonabutment teeth and wearers with satisfactory dentures versus with problematic (or unsatisfactory) dentures. Significant differences in mean values were determined using a paired t-test, General Linear Model and Analysis of Variance. Level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: There were 38 (39.6%) partially edentulous with no removable partial denture experience and 58 (60.4%) denture wearers (32 (33.3%) with unsatisfactory, 26 (27.1%) with satisfactory dentures). Removable partial denture wearers had significantly more coronal caries (p<0.05) and root surface caries (p<0.001) compared to non-wearers. However, Subjects who had problem complaints of their dentures had significantly more attachment loss and pocket depth compared to those who wore satisfactory dentures (p<0.05). In partial denture wearers, abutment teeth had significantly more levels of caries and periodontal diseases when compared to non-abutment teeth. Abutment teeth of subjects wearing satisfactory dentures had significantly greater scores of caries (p<0.0001) compared to those of non-wearers; and lesser scores of gingival recession (p<0.05) and attachment loss (p<0.01) compared to those of wearers with unsatisfactory dentures. In addition, abutment teeth of wearers with problem dentures had significantly higher scores of caries and periodontal diseases compared to non-wearers. Conclusion: Wearing removable partial dentures increased the likelihood of coronal and root surface caries and to a lesser extent adversely affected the periodontal status. Abutment teeth appeared to suffer the most deleterious effects.