PREVALENCE OF EDENTULOUS DENTAL ARCH TYPES, MOUTH PREPARATION AND QUALITY OF PLASTER MODELS FOR REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURES IN THE STATE OF PARAIBA

Abstract

Removable partial dentures installed without prior mouth preparation tend to deteriorate prematurely, in addition to causing damage to the masticatory apparatus. Objective: To assess mouth preparation performance on master casts sent to prosthodontics laboratories in five towns located in the state of Paraiba. Materials and method: Two calibrated examiners analyzed 1,000 casts, filling out a six-item form for each cast. Results: Data revealed that the upper teeth represented 53.1% of the sample. As regards Kennedy’s classification, 33.7% of the casts were Class III; 29.7% were Class I; 28.7% and 7.9% were Class II and Class IV, respectively. Ninety-two percent of the sample showed no trace of mouth preparation. In relation to the material used to obtain the casts, 61% were prepared using Type IV gypsum; 35.6% used Type III gypsum and 3.4% used Type II gypsum. Conclusion: Mouth preparation has been carried out less frequently in the inner towns, even though preparation rates in the state capital of Paraiba (Joao Pessoa) was found to be very low as well. DESCRIPTORS: Denture, Partial, Removable. Tooth Preparation. Prosthodontic. Dental models.