Telescopic-Retained-Removable-Partial-Dentures: Survival in Private Practice and Dental School

Objectives: Little is known about the long-term results of telescopic-retained-partial-dentures (TRPDs) delivered by private practices. Thus, it was the aim of this study to compare survival times of TRPDs placed in a private practice and a dental school in Germany.
Methods: In total 611 patients with 761 TRPDs were observed in two retrospective clinical studies, of which 462 patients with 571 TRPDs were treated in a German dental school while 149 patients with 190 TRPDs were treated in a private practice. Survival rates and modifying factors (number of abutment teeth, sex and denture location) were assessed by Kaplan-Meier- and Log-Rank-Analysis.
Results: 24 TRPDs delivered by the dental school ceased functioning during the observation period (mean 3.87±3.15 years), while 23 of the protheses placed in the private practice failed during observation time (mean 6.78±4.58 years). Survival rates did not differ significantly (p>0.05, Log-Rank-test). The calculated survival probability was 96.1% (5 years) and 84.0% (10 years) [dental school] and 96.2% (5 years) and 78.4% (10 years) [private practice] respectively. The number of abutment teeth significantly influenced survival: Prostheses with lower numbers of abutment teeth were more prone to failure (p<0.05, Log-Rank-test). The covariates sex and denture location did not alter survival probability (n.s., p>0.05, Log-Rank-test).
Conclusions: Within the limits of this study it can be concluded, that the survival time of TRPDs placed in private practices and dental schools in Germany is comparable. Thus, a successful transfer of knowledge from the academic teaching situation to professional work-life of a dentist in Germany can be assumed.