Pre-Prosthetic Preparation in the Treatment with Fixed Prosthetic Constructions

The authors’ aim was to determine the role of pre-prosthetic periodontal preparation in the life expectancy of dental bridges. Materials and methods: A retrograde screening study was performed on 58 patients with bridge restorations, subsequently divided into two groups: Group 1 involved patients who had undergone pre-prosthetic periodontal preparation and Group 2 where patients had not had any pre-prosthetic periodontal preparation. Inclusion criteria were subjective complaints, life span of the bridge, evaluated according to the three medico-biological criteria and according to the periodontal pocket depth. Changes were followed up in four successive examinations: after 1 week, 1 year, 2 years and 5 years. Results: The results pointed towards a significant correlation between participants’ affiliation to a particular group (Group 1 or Group 2) and the progression of the periodontal pocket depth (P=0.20). A linear correlation was established between the number of patients in Group 2 and any discrepancies in the preventive (R=0.792, P <0.01), functional (R=0.742, P <0.01) and aesthetic criteria (R=0.881, P < 0.01). At the first control examination, Group 2 patients had subjective complaints which over time (after 3 years and 5 years) intensified. Such observations were not found among Group 1participants. Conclusion: The longevity of dental bridge prostheses is contingent on the state of the hard and soft tissue of the oral cavity. Pre-prosthetic periodontal preparation is essential in achieving long-term functionality, lack of subjective complaints and good aesthetics.