Titanium for removable partial dentures (III): 2-year clinical follow-up in an undergraduate programme

This study examined the success of titanium (Ti) removable partial dentures (RPDs) compared with that of cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) RPDs using a randomiz ed controlled clinical trial. Thirty-eight RPD patients were provided with either Co-Cr (20 patients) or Ti (18 patients) RPDs. The total numbers of d entures was 31 (13 maxillary, 18 mandibular) for Co-Cr and 23 (11 maxillary , 12 mandibular) for Ti. Patients were reviewed for 24 months following den ture issue. After the initial 12 months, 20 clinical problems were recorded and became the criteria for subsequent assessment. Incidence of failure wa s analysed using both Fisher's exact test and the chi square test at a sign ificance level of P < 0.05. Fracture of retainers in both metals occurred o nly in the first 12 months. Some failure types presented at significantly h igher levels in the first 12 months but there were no significant differenc es between the two in all the criteria examined between the 12- and the 24- month reviews. Although differences existed In failure types between Co-Cr and Ti RPDs during the early review stages, the overall success rate of Ti RPDs was comparable with that of Co-Cr RPDs after 24 months. The higher inc idence of failures in Ti RPDs prior to the 12-month review suggests the imp ortance of taking its lower rigidity into account when designing RPDs.