LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF CROSS-ARCH FIXED PARTIAL DENTURES IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED PERIODONTAL DESTRUCTION - EVALUATION OF OCCLUSION AND SUBJECTIVE FUNCTION

The study aimed to investigate occlusal factors in fixed partial dentu res (FPDs) still in service for more than 10 years, and to assess the patients' opinions regarding oral function with these constructions. T hirty-four patients with 43 FPDs were examined clinically concerning o cclusion and by means of a questionnaire on functional aspects. The mo st common occlusal contact pattern was group function (51% on both sid es, 7% on one side) while canine protected occlusion was recorded in 1 6% on both sides, 7% on one side. Balanced occlusion (19%) was mainly found when the FPD occluded against a complete denture and when there were few abutments and a small amount of abutment supporting tissue. T he number and intensity of the occlusal contacts were assessed by mean s of thin occlusal sheets (50 mu m). On average, one occlusal contact was observed on each dental unit with antagonist. The average number o f sheets that could be introduced between the antagonists when the pat ient bit hard in the intercuspal position was two without significant differences between different areas (anterior/posterior) or type of de ntal unit (abutment, pontics, cantilever section). in the cantilever s ections there were looser contacts (more interocclusal sheets) more di stally. The great majority of patients were satisfied with the functio n of their FPDs (mastication, phonetics, aesthetics, comfort, and hygi ene). Subjective function was not significantly influenced by FPD desi gn, occlusal factors or number of FPD units. The only significant diff erence observed was that patients with a small amount of supporting ti ssues said they had more difficulties with hard foods than the others had. Although a stable occlusion was found in all FPDs, none of the ot her occlusal parameters examined were related to the long-term results .