DENTISTS ATTITUDES TO THE SHORTENED DENTAL ARCH CONCEPT

The aim of restorative dentistry in high-risk groups tends to shift ov er time from the preservation of complete dental arches towards the pr eservation of functional dental arches, using a functionally oriented approach. An example of this approach, aimed at limited treatment goal s, is the shortened dental arch (SDA) concept. The objective of this s tudy was to investigate dentists' attitudes to the SDA concept in gene ral practice. A questionnaire seeking information pertaining to the at titudes and application of the SDA concept in clinical practice was se nt to all dentally qualified members of staff in the held of restorati ve dentistry in the Nijmegen School of Dentistry (n = 64). From a 64% response, it was found that all but one of the respondents view the SD A concept as having a useful place in clinical practice. Although the respondents indicated only regular or occasional use of SDA in <10% of patients, the outcome of SDA management was generally satisfactory or at least sufficient, notably in the care of special category patients . The findings support the view that the SDA concept has a role in con temporary clinical practice.