title: [Removable partial dentures. Oral functions and types].
abstract: A removable partial denture enables the restoration or improvement of 4 oral functions: aesthetics, mandibular stability, mastication, and speech. However, wearing a removable partial denture should not cause oral comfort to deteriorate. There are 3 types of removable partial dentures: acrylic tissue-supported dentures, dentures with cast metal frameworks en dentures with cast metal frameworks and (semi)precision attachments. Interrupted tooth arches,free-ending tooth arches, and a combination of interrupted as well as free-ending tooth arches can be restored using these dentures. Well-known disadvantages of removable partial dentures are problematic oral hygiene, negative influence on the remaining dentition and limited oral comfort. Due to the advanced possibilities of fixed tooth- or implant-supported partial dentures, whether or not free-ending, or tooth- as well as implant-supported partial dentures, the indication of removable partial dentures is restricted. Nevertheless, for the time being the demand for removable partial dentures is expected to continue.
authors.affiliation: Uit de afdeling Orale Functieleer van het Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud te Nijmegen. n.creugers@dent.umcn.nl
authors.forename: N H J
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Creugers
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Baat
mesh_terms: D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable / Q000009:adverse effects; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000628:therapy*; D008334:Mandible / Q000502:physiology; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000592:standards*; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*