Alveolar bone loss in bridge recipients after six and twelve years.

For a long time the major emphasis in prosthetic dentistry was placed on the technical and mechanical aspects of the different procedures and material used. The relationship between the prosthetic treatment and the periodontal tissues received less attention. As a consequence early results of epidemiological studies were not encouraging since they revealed that prosthetic treatment may be an important contributory factor in the aetiology of periodontal diseases. Research during the last two decades into the aetiology and pathogenesis of these diseases has revealed major principles and finer details relating to the mechanisms of their initiation and progression. Recent research has shown that cooperation between the prosthodontist and the periodontist, based upon agreed fundamental concepts, may give encouraging results in the prosthetic replacement of lost teeth. The study reported here assesses the effects upon the periodontal tissues of fixed bridges over a six and twelve year period.