Short and sticky options in the treatment of the partially dentate patient

As we move into the twenty-first century, patterns of dental disease in adults are changing. Surveys of adult dental health indicate that more people are keeping their teeth for longer in life. In many cases, the ravages of dental disease and the cumulative effect of a lifetime of restorative dentistry lead to gradual tooth loss. For many of these patients, restoration of a complete dentition may not be feasible nor desirable. In recent years, functionally oriented treatment planning has become acceptable in light of recent research findings. Using this approach, treatment efforts and resources are directed principally at retaining the 'strategic' part of the dentition in the long term, ie, the anterior and premolar teeth. This paper describes, with the aid of treated cases, a means of combining a shortened dental arch strategy with resin bonded bridgework. With the aid of recent research in this area of clinical practice, some suggestions as to the use of the technique are also described.