Relationship between wearing a removable partial denture and satisfaction in the elderly

Natural dentitions of elderly people are often reduced, remaining teeth heavily restored and removable partial dentures (RPD's) frequently used to replace absent teeth. Lack of knowledge exists on how the elderly experience the comfort of these replacements. To get more insight 320 dentate noninstitutionalized subjects between 55 and 75 yr of age were clinically examined and interviewed by means of a questionnaire. Data showed that only 13% of the subjects had a complete dentition from the right to the left first molar; 50% had less than four occlusal units. 39% of the subjects was wearing a RPD. Analysis showed that subjects with a RPD were in general less satisfied with their dental state than subjects without a partial denture. However, when the RPD added occlusal units to the dentition, satisfaction increased significantly. No differences in satisfaction were found between subjects with a metal frame prosthesis and an acrylic denture, nor between tooth-bounded and distal extension prostheses. The conclusion can be drawn that the indication for a RPD should be limited in elderly people, unless the RPD increased the number of the occlusal units.