Replacement of missing teeth in a southern region of Vietnam--a descriptive dental laboratory study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore whether tooth replacement in a southern region of Vietnam is in line with the primary health care approach, aiming at health services for all people at affordable costs.


METHODS
Tooth replacement was investigated by means of prostheses as delivered by four dental laboratories of which the output was considered representative. Information was based on dental casts related to the prostheses.


RESULTS
Prostheses replaced almost all missing teeth, irrespective of the types (interrupted or shortened dental arches) and numbers of missing teeth in the dental arch they were made for. Acrylic removable partial dentures were the most common prostheses delivered (65% of removable partial dentures).


CONCLUSIONS
It cannot be stated that dental arch conditions in this study were representative for the southern Vietnamese population. However, it is concluded that dental practitioners tend to provide complete dental arches by tooth replacements. This morphologically based approach might introduce over treatment. In line with primary oral health care, a functionally oriented treatment management, including the shortened dental arch concept, should be implemented.
Chau
Thoa Nguyen
TN
Department of Oral Function and Prosthetic Dentistry, College of Dental Science, Radboud University Nijmegan Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
Witter
Dick J
DJ
Kreulen
Cees M
CM
Creugers
Nico H J
NH
Tu
Hung Hoang
HH
D003442:Crowns / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017266:Dental Prosthesis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003779:Denture Design; D003824:Denture, Complete / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007754:Laboratories, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003765:Models, Dental; D008963:Molar; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology