title: [Effects of removable partial dentures on the quality of life in people with shortened dental arches].
abstract: In order to assess the enhanced value of removable partial dentures on the quality of life, patients at 2 university clinics were screened for the presence of complete or shortened dental arches. Those selected were assigned to 1 of 5 subgroups: 1) a shortened dental arch with all frontal teeth, 2) a shortened dental arch with one or more frontal diastemas, 3) a shortened dental arch with all frontal teeth, restored by a removable partial denture, 4) a shortened dental arch and several diastemas, restored by a removable partial denture, 5) a complete dental arch. The participants completed the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-49) and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Clinical data recorded were: whether any teeth were missing and if so which, whether or not these had been replaced by a removable partial denture, and the number of occluding pairs of (pre)molars. The results revealed that a shortenend dental arch has a certain impact on the quality of life. However, the participants only experienced benefits from a removable partial denture if the denture also replaced frontal teeth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Armellini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heydecke
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Witter
authors.forename: N H J
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Creugers
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003724:Dental Arch; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile