Dentists experiences, practices and understanding of some design statements regarding mandibular kennedy class I removable partial dentures

ABSTRACT

Mandibular Kennedy class I situation being substantial and its restoration need with removable partial dentures [RPDs], necessitates practitioners to be knowledgeable and skillful in the clinical, biological and technical aspects. It is aimed to report clinical experiences and practices with RPDs of some dentists and their understanding of some statements pertaining to the design of these RPDs. Comparative, PMDC Registered dentists in NWFP. A self-administered structured Performa documenting personal and RPD practice related information and responses to some conceptual statements pertaining to a standardized mandibular Kennedy Class I RPD was used to collect data. Data were collected, by either direct personal contact or through mail, from 120 dentists divided into 4 groups on the basis of their professional educational and practice experience level. There were wide variations in responses of dentists regarding the extent of their provision of RPDs and specifically of mandibular Kennedy Class I RPD to patients, A substantial number of dentists [77 97%] had never reappraised their RPD making skills. Not doing jaw cast surveying and delegating the RPD design to dental technician was noted in cases of some 67 - 93% and 20 - 43% respectively. Selection of inappropriate design statements pertaining to the test situation regarding the various aspects of RPD designing was also made by many dentists in the various groups. Participants having relatively fresh entry into clinical dental practice proved more knowledgeable by responding appropriately in larger numbers. Mostly within group and between-group variations were statistically insignificant. Knowledge of the participating dentists in all the 4 groups was poor regarding the understanding of the concepts related to RPD design. However, relatively younger dentists proved better than the others