Intervention for replacing missing teeth: Partially absent dentition-Evidence summary of Cochrane review

Cochrane reviews are systematic reviews with meta analysis published by the Cochrane collaboration, in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR). These reviews provide the clinicians with the highest level of evidence as they use a highly structured and transparent systematic review model to address a specific research question. The management of partially absent dentition is routinely under taken by general dentist and Prosthodontist but clinical practice guidelines based on evidence to this common problem is yet to be summarized. This Cochrane systematic review aims to address the effect of different prosthesis for the treatment of partially absent dentition in the terms of, Long-term success, function, morbidity, and patient satisfaction. All randomized controlled trials were searched till March 18, 2011, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 21 trials were included and 32 trials were excluded and, it was critically appraised using the Cochrane methodology for interventions. The summary of evidence from the study concludes that there is insufficient evidence to state the effectiveness of removable and fixed prosthesis in partially edentulous subjects in the following four outcomes. There were insufficient trials to perform a meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis. This evidence-based summary emphasizes and reinforces the need to reassess the quality of research currently pursued in our profession, to address the need to provide higher level of evidence for common conditions like partial edentulousness. The included studies are basically not from our population too, hence the urgency to address this critical issue.