COMPARISON BETWEEN THE EFFECT OF CONVENTIONAL REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURES AND TELESCOPIC REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURES ON POCKET DEPTHS AND ALVEOLAR BONE HEIGHT OF ABUTMENT TEETH

Objective: this study was conducted to compare the effect of the conventional removable partial dentures (RPDs) and telescopic partial dentures on pocket depths and alveolar bone height of abutment teeth after a follow-up period of one year.
Materials and Methods: twenty eight patients with mandibular bilateral free-end saddle were selected for this study, with canines and first premolars as last standing abutments on both sides and an opposing maxillary dentulous arch. They were randomly divided into two groups, group I receiving a conventional RPD, and group II receiving a telescopic partial denture. CAD/CAM technology was used for the fabrication of Polymethylmethacrylate patterns for both copings and frameworks for the two groups followed by casting in the conventional manner. Radiographic bone height measurements and pocket depth measurements were performed for the two groups at denture delivery and after one year.
Results: there was no significant difference in percentage bone loss and pocket depth between the two groups after one year. However, only group II showed a significant increase in pocket depth after one year of follow-up. There was also an increase in bone loss in both groups after one year but it was not significant.
Conclusion: Minor changes in pocket depths and alveolar bone height were observed in both groups. However, the telescopic partial denture showed signs of gingival inflammation and increased pocket depths, while the conventional removable partial denture showed more favorable results.