Removable partial dentures: Part 3

The provision of removable partial dentures (RPDs) is an important skill for practitioners and it can often be challenging to make a successful prosthesis which the patient finds satisfactory. This three-part series has been designed to provide an overview of the clinical management of patients requiring RPDs. This final part describes more complex techniques that may be faced by dentists with additional training or experience in fixed and removable prosthodontics. These scenarios include the use of precision attachments to provide additional retention for an RPD, swinglock dentures to aid retention in cases with unfavourable tooth or alveolar undercuts, and sectional dentures for patients with challenging paths of insertion. For each clinical technique, the advantages, disadvantages and indications are summarised.