Clinical evaluation of removable partial dentures on the periodontal health of abutment teeth: a retrospective study

Finite Element Study of Stress Distribution with Tooth-Supported Mandibular Overdenture Retained by Ball Attachments or Resilient Telescopic Crowns

Objective The removable partial denture must keep health of the remaining teeth and the supporting tissues through the distribution of chewing forces on the abutment teeth and alveolar process.

This study aimed to evaluate stress distribution with canines-supported mandibular overdenture retained by two different attachment types: ball attachments or resilient telescopic crowns.

Materials and Methods Two 3-dimensional finite element models consisting of the cortical mandible bone, cancellous mandible bone, oral mucosa, canines, periodontal ligaments, the two attachment types, and overdenture were simulated. The models were imported into the mathematical analysis software Ansys Workbench V 15.0. All materials were considered to be homogeneous, isotropic, and linearly elastic. A vertical bilateral load of 120 N was applied to the central fossa of the first molars. The von Mises stress was calculated for canines, cortical, and cancellous bone.

Results The maximum von Mises stress of the ball attachments model was 35.61, 4.28, 7.82, and 1.29 MPa for canines, cortical alveolar bone of canines, cortical alveolar bone at the distal end of the overdenture, and cancellous alveolar bone of canines, respectively. The maximum von Mises stress of the resilient telescopic crowns model was 39.22, 4.74, 7.06, and 1.05 MPa for canines, cortical alveolar bone of canines, cortical alveolar bone at the distal end of the overdenture, and cancellous alveolar bone of canines, respectively.

Conclusion Resilient telescopic crowns distribute the stresses between canines, alveolar bone of canines, and overdenture supporting alveolar bone. Ball attachments transfer less stress to the canines and cortical alveolar bone of the canines, but more stress to the cancellous alveolar bone of canines and alveolar bone at distal end of the overdenture. Resilient telescopic crowns are preferred over ball attachment when the abutment teeth have good periodontal support.

Current trends in removable partial prosthodontics education in dental colleges of Pakistan

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate the current trends in undergraduate teaching of removable partial prosthodontics in various dental colleges of Pakistan.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study was conducted in which a questionnaire was sent by email to head of Prosthodontics department of thirty-one dental institutes of Pakistan. The survey included multiple questions regarding current trends in removable partial prosthodontics education in undergraduate dental colleges.

RESULTS

Out of thirty-one questionnaires, twenty-six were completely filled and returned. In 19 (73%) dental colleges, removable partial denture is taught over a period of at least two years of undergraduate education. Students of only six dental colleges fabricate 10-12 removable partial dentures during their Prosthodontic rotation. Lectures and live clinical demonstration for construction of removable acrylic dentures are reported to be carried out in all the dental schools. Simple hinge articulator is the articulator of choice in 22 (84.6%) colleges. Even though twenty-four out of twenty-six colleges (92.3%) teach fabrication of cast partial dentures in lectures, none of the student fabricate these dentures during their Prosthodontic rotation.

CONCLUSION

This survey is the first to comprehensively report the teaching practices of removable denture Prosthodontics in undergraduate dental colleges of Pakistan. Faculty of all twenty-six colleges give clinical demonstrations of acrylic partial denture construction before students start working in the dental OPD. Most of the dental colleges report use of similar impression materials and techniques in removable partial denture fabrication. More than 90% of dental colleges teach cast partial dentures theoretically, but their construction is grossly neglected in all the dental colleges. It is important that this skill is taught and practised by students in order to have the necessary skill set, so they can provide comprehensive treatment to partially dentate patients once they graduate.

Oral Health of Patients Treated with Acrylic Partial Dentures Using a Toothpaste Containing Bee Product

This study was carried out to investigate the influence of a propolis and tee tree oil-containing hygienic agent on selected oral health parameters, oral microflora, and the condition of periodontal health. Thirty-seven patients who underwent oral rehabilitation with a removable acrylic denture were selected and randomly assigned into two groups: study group (A) which received a newly formulated propolis and tee tree oil-containing toothpaste or a control group (C) without an active ingredient. API, S-OHI, and mSBI were assessed in three subsequent stages. During each examination swabs were employed for microbiological inoculation: in the study group after 4 weeks use of the active toothpaste showed a decrease in the number of isolated microorganisms. In the control group, after 4 weeks use of the toothpaste without active ingredients resulted in increase in the number of the isolated microorganisms. Improvements in hygiene and the condition of periodontium were observed in patients using active toothpastes. In the study group the oral flora diversity was reduced by the decrease in the number of cultured microorganism species, while in the control group an increase in the number of cultured microorganisms and their species was observed.