The effect of frequent removable partial denture wearing on alveolar bone resorption

Aim To determine the influence of frequent removable partial denture (RPD) wearing on the alveolar bone density changes around the abutment teeth. Methods Fifty examinees of both genders, wearing partial dentures, were included in the study. Thirty one of the examinees (62%) were wearing the dentures 24 hours a day, while nineteen (34%) of them were wearing them only during the day. The changes in the bone density around the abutment teeth were determined by the intraoral microdensitometry method. Standard retroalveolar radiographs were performed twice. The first one before the removable partial denture delivery and the second one after a period of three-month denture wearing. A copper step wedge consisting of five steps (0.1-0.5 mm) was attached to the radiograph in order to calibrate it. Seven points, regions of interest (ROI) close to the root of the abutment tooth, all ten pixels in size, were selected on each radiograph. Grey areas in the regions of interest were measured and converted into the copper step wedge thickness equivalents in order to estimate the change in the alveolar bone density and measure the difference in alveolar bone density between two radiographs. Results The results indicated that there is not any statistically relevant change (t-value < 2,011; t(49,0.05) / F< 4,0426; F0.05(1,48)) in the alveolar bone density depending on the frequency of removable partial denture wearing. Conclusion The frequency of removable partial denture wearing does not cause any changes in the alveolar bone density around the abutment teeth in the period of three-month denture wearin