title: The influence of removable partial dentures on the periodontal health of abutment and non-abutment teeth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of removable partial dentures (RPD) on the periodontal health of abutment and non-abutment teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total 107 patients with RPD participated in this study. It was examined 138 RPD, they were 87 with clasp-retained and 51 were RPD with attachments. The following periodontal parameters were evaluated for abutment and non-abutment teeth, plaque index (PLI), calculus index (CI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD) (mm) and tooth mobility (TM) index. These clinical measurements were taken immediately before insertion the RPD, then one and 3 months after insertion. The level of significance was set at (P < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean scores for PLI, CI, BOP, PD, and TM index, of the abutment teeth and non-abutment teeth were no statistically significant at the time of insertion of RPD. After 1-month, PLI was statistically significant (0.57 ± 0.55 for abutment and 0.30 ± 0.46 for non-abutment teeth). After 3 months, there were significant differences between abutment and non-abutment teeth with regard to the BOP (1.53 ± 0.50 and 1.76 ± 0.43 respectively), PD (0.28 ± 0.45 and 0.12 ± 0.33 respectively) and PLI (1.20 ± 0.46 and 0.75 ± 0.64 respectively). No significant mean difference in TM and CI was found between the abutment and non-abutment teeth (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With carefully planned prosthetic treatment and adequate maintenance of the oral and denture hygiene, we can prevent the periodontal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, School of Dentistry, Prishtina, Kosovo.
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Dula
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, School of Dentistry, Prishtina, Kosovo.
authors.forename: Kujtim Sh
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Shala
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, School of Dentistry, Prishtina, Kosovo.
authors.forename: Teuta
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pustina-Krasniqi
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, School of Dentistry, Prishtina, Kosovo.
authors.forename: Teuta
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bicaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, School of Dentistry, Prishtina, Kosovo.|Department of Prosthetic and Parodontology, MedUni Graz, Dental School, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Enis F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Ahmedi
keywords: Abutment teeth; periodontal disease; removable partial denture