| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2012 | Volume
: 2
| Issue : 2 | Page : 104-107 |
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An assessment of prosthodontists' attitudes to the shortened dental arch concept
Pradeep C Kumar1, Seema George2
1 Department of Prosthodontics, KMCT Dental College, Calicut, India
2 Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Kothamangalam, Kerala, India
Correspondence Address:
Pradeep C Kumar
Department of Prosthodontics, KMCT Dental College, Calicut
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2229-5194.100602
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Aim: To assess the attitudes and experiences on the Shortened Dental Arch (SDA) concept from an exclusive sample of specialist prosthodontists. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire containing different statements with regard to the SDA concept was designed for this study. This was prefaced by a short explanation of the SDA concept. It was sent to a random sample of 51 specialist prosthodontists. Results: The response rate was 64%. Most of the respondents indicated experience with the SDA concept ranging from recent to ten years. Patients' reactions on the proposal of shortening their dental arch were quite varied, from either clear objections to no objections, or, initial objections that were withdrawn on explanation. Chewing ability, appearance, and oral comfort consequent to an SDA were rated as sufficient or satisfactory by the respondents. Conclusion: Overall, the specialist prosthodontists had a positive attitude toward the SDA concept. However, they had reservations about the management outcome of SDA.
Clinical Relevance to Interdisciplinary Dentistry
- Prosthodontists had an overall positive attitude toward the SDA concept. In patients with caries and periodontal disease confined mainly to molar regions, active shortening of the dental arch should be considered.
- The SDA concept could be considered as a strategy to reduce the need for complex restorative treatment in the posterior regions of the mouth.
- Periodontally healthy and intact or restored anterior and premolar regions are a prerequisite to the success of SDA concept application.
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