Introduction:

        Removable Partial Dentures ( or RPD for short ) is a prosthesis which is used when the patient has more than a few teeth missing, but still has some healthy teeth left in the mouth. This means that the patient cannot be given a Fixed Partial Denture because of a large number of missing teeth, and also cannot be given a Complete Denture as he/she still has a few normal healthy teeth left in the mouth.

        RPD are of 2 types:
        Metallic and Acrylic

Acrylic RPD : Acrylic RPDs are a very popular treatment option for the patients as they are :-

*    very easy to contruct,
*    very economical to the patient,
*    but are generally bulkier, and heavier than Metallic RPDs
*    and compress the gums of the patient.

All the load of chewing the food is transferred to the underlying soft tissues, which is not healthy, but cannot be avoided.

Metallic RPD : are the correct treatment option for the patients. They are better than Acrylic RPD as :-

*    the metal has greater strength with less bulk,
*    lighter in weight,
*    and takes the support of the remaining teeth in the mouth, so it does not unnecessarily compress the gums,
*    and are healthier in the long run as the underlying soft tissue is not compressed unnecessarily.
 
 

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