Chronological grey scale changes in supporting alveolar bone by removable partial denture placement on patients with periodontal disease: A 6-month follow-up study using digital subtraction analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose was to assess the early effects of removable partial denture (RPD) placement on abutment teeth in patients with periodontal disease.

METHODS: Fifteen distal-extension RPDs and 19 abutment teeth were evaluated in 13 patients with moderate-to-severe periodontal diseases. Clinical periodontal records and grey level (GL) score based on digital subtraction radiography were measured on the day of denture placement (baseline) and at 1day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the placement. Occlusal force on total dentition (Ft) and abutment tooth (Fa) were recorded with (baseline) and without denture on the day of the placement, and with denture in the follow-up examinations.

RESULTS: No statistically significant difference between a follow-up period and the baseline was found in the clinical periodontal and occlusal force records, except for Ft with denture on the day of the placement, which was significantly lower than the baseline (p<0.05). The GL at distal crestal of the abutment was significantly higher at 1 week after the placement than at the baseline (p<0.05), while the scores of following examinations returned to the baseline level.

CONCLUSIONS: The distal crestal bone of the abutment tooth transitorily reacts to mechanical stress due to the denture placement, while this does not suggest a detrimental effect within the limitation of the study design with a short-term observation period.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The RPDs can be safely used for patients with periodontal diseases for at least 6 months if they are properly placed and maintained by professional care.