Partial edentulism, prosthetic treatment and oral function in a Dutch population.

The aim of this study was to gain a better insight into the location and frequency of prosthetic replacements and the consequences of tooth loss on oral function. The sample, stratified according to socio-economic class and age, consisted of 750 subjects. The investigation was done by questionnaire and clinical examination. In the lower social levels the percentage of removable prostheses was lower than in the higher levels. An average of 60% of all open tooth spaces were not prosthetically restored. In the lower jaw 1 to 3 free-end spaces were completed with removable partial dentures (RPD). The present study did not support a relationship between missing teeth or number of contacting pairs and the functioning of the dentition. The distribution of antagonistic contacts in the dental arch seems to be of more importance.