Epidemiology of Removable Partial Denture Treatments in a Dental School

Objectives: The present study describes the removable partial denture (RPD) patient population in a Midwest dental school
Methods: Institutional electronic health records (EHRs) were examined. All records between 2009 and 2018 that included one of the several current dental terminology (CDT) codes for removable partial denture (RPD) treatment were included in the study. Basic demographic data were accessed and a Kennedy classification was computed using the EHR field for existing teeth.
Results: The EHRs identified 7,399 instances of the use of the CDT codes associated with RPD treatment for 5,869 unique patients, and 4,549 patients (78%) received only one RPD while 1,156 (20%) received two RPDs over the study period. Mean age at first RPD treatment was 58 and the mean number of reported medications was 6.3. Diabetes was reported by 25% of patients receiving RPDs, 23% reported a mental health condition, and 25% reported dental fear. No dental insurance was reported by 43%, 34% had private insurance, and 24% had state-provided dental insurance. Of the RPDs, 46% were identified as Kennedy 1, 30% were Kennedy II, 21% were Kennedy III, and 2% were Kennedy IV.
Conclusions: Patients receiving RPDs in a Midwest dental school frequently presented without dental insurance and with a significant number of comorbidities and medications. The relative incidence of Kennedy classifications compares with previous studies of smaller groups. Further studies could compare outcomes across the various groups described.