How Long should a Shortened Dental Arch be?

From Volume 35, Issue 7, September 2008 | Pages 454-459

Authors

PF Allen

BDS, PhD, MSc, FDS, FDS(Rest Dent) RCPS, FFD RCSI

Senior Lecturer/Consultant, Department of Restorative Dentistry, University Dental School & Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland

Articles by PF Allen

Abstract

Increasing numbers of older adults are retaining teeth into old age. Many of these patients refuse to wear removable partial dentures, and have a high prevalence of dental disease and heavily restored teeth. The shortened dental arch (SDA) concept is a potentially cost-effective way of managing older, partially dentate adults. However, case selection is critical and long term preservation of a functional dentition may not be possible in certain patients. This paper highlights the critical treatment planning issues and outlines treatment strategies aimed at avoiding occlusal instability in patients with shortened dental arches.

Article

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