Improving Removable Partial Denture Adherence for Elderly Patients

Purpose: Improve patient's prosthetic use for patients who have never used mandible distal extensions cobalt-chromium removable partial dentures (CCRPDs)

Methods: A Clinical Trial was designed for 60 volunteer elderly patients, 45 female, 15 male, ages between 70 and 79 years old (mean 75.05). Inclusion criteria: six remaining teeth in the mandible from canine to canine and no previous use of CCRPDs. Upper maxillary could be natural dentition, RPDs, denture or fixed prosthetics. Patients were randomly divided in two equal groups: - Group A (control): CCRPDs were made by anatomic impressions, cast, custom tray, functional impressions, framework, artificial teeth try in,installation and controls.- Group B (experimental): an occlusal mandible device was worn by the patients for seven days before CCRPDs, made like those of group A, were installed in the patients. Elderly patients' oral health related quality of life (GOHAI) was measured pre/post prosthetic installation. Control sessions and prosthetic adherence at 30 days, 6 and 12 months was recorded. Chi square was applied for GOHAI and Adherence and t test for control sessions/treatments.

Results: Number of control sessions averages group A/B were 5.63/2, p=0.000.

Initial GOHAI for Group A/B were low. Final GOHAI A/B were 26 low 4 moderate/ 28 high 2 moderate p=0.000.Prosthetic adherence at 1, 6 and 12 month recall for group A/B were: 17/30, 8/29, 8/28 p= 0.000.

Conclusions: The use of an occlusal mandible device in patient's Kennedy class I before CCRPDs, significantly reduces the number of clinical controls sessions, improves prosthetic adherence and quality of life.