[The removable partial prosthesis--review of the literature]

Early and late checkups on partial dentures demonstrate clearly, that insufficient cleaning of the remaining dentition and of the prostheses along with an unsatisfactory design are one of the main causes of failures in partial denture therapy. They invariably lead to tissue damages. Hence it has become one of the paramount goals to educate and motivate the patient for adequate mouth and denture hygiene. Also, proper occlusion and the avoidance of parafunction upon the remaining teeth and their supporting tissues must be observed strictly. Therefore, it is important to prepare the remaining dentition carefully and to organize the patients to be recalled for checkups at given intervals. In modern literature on the subject the psychological aspects of difficulties in denture adaptation are more frequently discussed.