Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine what are the current trends in general dental practice in the United Kingdom (UK) in the treatment of the shortened dental arches (SDAs). Methods: Over a period of six months, a survey of four commercial dental laboratories was conducted. Cases with SDAs comprising the anterior teeth and 2 to 4 premolars were examined, dentists prescriptions were scrutinized and special data collection forms were completed accordingly. Results: The total number of the examined SDA cases was 266. Most of these cases were for a mandibular SDAs (93.6%). 47,4% of the recorded SDA cases were left unrestored, 35,3% were restored by cobalt-chromium based removable partial dentures (RPDs), 13,5% were extended by acrylic-resin based RPDs, implants were provided to restore 8 SDA cases (3%) and only two SDA cases (0.8%) were extended by cantilevered fixed bridges. Neither the gender of the patient (X
2 = 4.278,
p>0.05) nor the length of the SDA (X
2 = 10,406,
p>0.05) influenced the observed trend in the treatment of the SDA. Conclusions: The results of this survey indicates that among the different treatment options for the SDA, the "no restoration" option was the most frequently observed treatment option. The "no restoration" of a mandibular SDA, comprising the anterior teeth plus 2 to 4 premolars, appears to be a widely practiced treatment option in general dental practice in the UK