Assessment of Periodontal Health Among Removable and Fixed Partial Denture Wearers in Aseer Region of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND Prosthetic rehabilitation will have harmful effects on periodontal structure if the patient fails to maintain an oral hygiene protocol. This study aimed to evaluate oral hygiene in fixed and removable partial denture wearers in the Aseer Province of Saudi Arabia. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a cross-sectional study done on 286 prosthesis wearers aged between 25 and 55 years; 142 were men and 144 women. Clinical examination was done using 3 periodontal parameters: plaque index, gingival index, and calculus surface index. RESULTS It was found that 72% and 25% of patients used fixed and removable partial prostheses, respectively. Most patients were in the 45-55 year age group (38.1%), were medically fit (78%), and used toothbrush and paste (70.6%). Most patients were instructed regarding the use of oral hygiene measures for their prostheses (71.3%). However, around half of the study group (52.8%) had odor from their prostheses. Most fixed prostheses were in the posterior teeth (73.2%) and had 3 units or more (58.7%). Removable partial dentures were mostly tooth-tissue supported (74%). A statistically significant difference was found for plaque index and gingival index between natural teeth and abutments in terms of various prosthetic parameters (P£0.001). The higher prevalence of gingival inflammation, plaque, and calculus accumulation in this study may be correlated to improper oral hygiene methods used by patients. CONCLUSIONS It can be concluded that there is a need to reinforce meticulous oral hygiene practices among patients using prosthodontic appliances.