The Effects of Two Types of Removable Partial Denture on the Periodontal Health of Abutment and Non Abutment Teeth

Abstract

Objective: The use of removable partial denture (RPD) has 
been implicated in the development of periodontal disease; 
therefore, it should be properly designed in other to reduce 
this effect. The objective of this study was to compare the 
effect of Metal Base RPD and Acrylic Base RPD on the 
periodontal health of abutment and non-abutment teeth.

Methods: This was a one-year prospective study carried out at 
the Prosthetic Unit of the University of Benin Teaching 
Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. The study participants were 
thirty newly diagnosis partially edentulous patients with 
acceptable periodontal health (BPE score zero). The 
participants were randomly allocated into Group A and B. 
Group A received metal base removable partial denture 
(MBRPD) while group B received acrylic base removable 
partial denture (ABRPD). The periodontal status of the 
abutment and non-abutment teeth were examined after the 
partial dentures were inserted at baseline, one month, three 
and six months using the following periodontal parameters: -
Plaque index, Bleeding on probing, Periodontal disease index, 
Miller’s classification of tooth mobility and Miller’s 
classification of gingival recession.

Results: The age range of the patients was 24 to 60 years with 
a mean age of 40.2 ± 11.35 years. There were 9 males (30%) (6 
in the ABRPD group, 3 in the MBRPD group) and 21 females 
(70%) (9 in the ABRPD group, 12 in MBRPD group) with male 
to female ratio of 1: 2.3. The differences between the 
abutment and non-abutment teeth in the metal base and 
acrylic base removable partial denture groups in all the 
periodontal parameters were not statistically significant 
except for the mean plaque score at 6 months post insertion. 
(p=0.002)

Conclusion: ARPD had a more deleterious effect on the 
periodontal health of abutment and non-abutment teeth than 
MRPD