[Position of removable partial dentures within prosthetic dentistry].

Recent developments in restorative dentistry resulted in a shift towards elderly patients with regard to the application of removable partial dentures (RPD). The half life time of a metal frame RPD is ten years. Negative effects of a RPD on the remaining dentition can be prevented by adequate oral hygiene, which is supervised in a recall program with an individually adjusted interval. Periodontal factors seem to be more important in the design of a RPD than biomechanical factors. Simplicity is a prime guideline in the design, especially in free-end situations.