title: Prevalence and pattern of partial edentulism among dental patients attending College of Dentistry, Aljouf University, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of partial edentulism among dental patients attending the College of Dentistry, Aljouf University, Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 142 patients were selected, and the prevalence of partial edentulism among the selected patient was recorded. Patients were grouped into three age groups; Group I: 21-30 years, Group II: 31-40 years, and Group III: 41-50 years. Kennedy's classification was used to determine the pattern of partially edentulous arches. Modification areas were not included in the assessment to avoid complexity. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0 for windows.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the occurrence of Kennedy Class III partial edentulism was 67.2 % in the maxillary arch and 64.1% in the mandibular arch. Followed by Class II in both maxillary and mandibular arch with an average of 16.3 % in maxillary arch and14.8% in the mandibular arch. Based on these results, class III has the highest prevalence in group II (31- 40 years). Class I and class II have the highest incidence among group III Patients (41-50 years).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among selected patients, Class III dental arch was the most prevalent pattern in maxillary and mandibular arches. Class IV being the least dominant pattern between all classes. There are a rise in Kennedy Class I and Kennedy Class II pattern and a decline in Class III and Class IV with an increase in age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Removable Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mostafa I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Fayad
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Aljouf University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohamed N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Baig
authors.affiliation: Dentist, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulrazaq M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alrawaili
keywords: Kennedy's classification; partial denture; partial edentulism pattern; prevalence of partial edentulism 