Periodontal reactions related to removable partial dentures: a literature review

In several clinical studies on RPDs, great attention was paid to the occurrence of reactions in periodontal tissues. Some early studies reported extensive periodontal breakdown, often a short time after insertion of a prosthesis. Other studies reported moderate or practically no harmful periodontal changes. In articles on causes of periodontal breakdown related to RPDs, the three main factors discussed were (1) plaque and oral hygiene, (2) coverage of the marginal gingivae by parts of an RPD, and (3) occlusal forces that are transmitted to the remaining teeth and their periodontal tissues by the prosthesis. Longitudinal studies have shown that it is possible for patients provided with RPDs to maintain good plaque control. If plaque control is established, and if the prostheses are regularly checked and indicated procedures performed, the forces transmitted to abutment teeth do not seem to induce periodontal breakdown. However, the scientific documentation about the effects of RPDs in patients with extremely reduced periodontium is scanty.