title: Oral health status of patients 5-6 years after placement of cobalt-chromium removable partial dentures.
abstract: This study is a clinical survey of cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) removable partial denture (RPD) wearers that aimed to investigate the effects of denture wearing on oral tissues. A random sample of patients who had received their dentures 5-6 years previously from a dental teaching hospital in Hong Kong was selected. Those who had been constantly wearing the RPDs were examined by one calibrated examiner under an optimal clinical setting. The patients' dental, periodontal and mucosal status were assessed. A total of 87 patients were examined. Mucosal lesions under the Co-Cr RPDs were uncommon in this study sample. However, there was a high prevalence of plaque, gingivitis and gingival recession, especially in dento-gingival surfaces in close proximity (within 3 mm) to the dentures. Thus, there is a special need for regular oral hygiene reinforcement, scaling and prophylaxis among RPD wearers. Despite a low caries incidence in the study sample, root caries were found to be associated with contact with the RPDs (P < 0.05) but coronal caries were not. It is recommended that coverage of the exposed root surfaces by RPD components should be avoided. Also, topical fluorides should be regularly applied onto exposed root surfaces as a preventive measure.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002858:Chromium Alloys; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000145:classification; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis; D012534:Dental Scaling; D003779:Denture Design; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000145:classification; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000145:classification; D006304:Health Status; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000145:classification; D015995:Prevalence; D017213:Root Caries / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control; D013282:Stomatitis, Denture / Q000145:classification
chemical_list: D002858:Chromium Alloys; D005460:Fluorides, Topical