Periodontal status of regular dental attenders with and without removable partial dentures

The periodontal status of 14 regular dental attenders who had been wearing removable partial dentures was compared with a matched group of non-denture wearers. Most partial dentures were mucosally supported. Reported plaque control practices, levels of plaque, subgingival calculus and gingival bleeding, mean pocket depth and mean loss of periodontal attachment were similar in both groups. Severe destructive periodontal disease was present in five (36%) of the denture wearers compared with seven (50%) of the non-denture wearers. We conclude that regular dental attenders with partial dentures were no more likely to have poorer periodontal health than comparable non-denture wearers.