Comparing the shortened dental arch and rehabilitation

Often dentists believe that any missing teeth should be replaced to achieve satisfactory oral function and healthy chewing ability. However, tooth loss does not always result in inadequate oral function and discomfort, as patients have shown the ability to adapt to a reduced number of teeth. Patients have been shown to be satisfied with fewer than 28 teeth. The shortened dental arch (SDA) concept was first proposed in 1981, identifying patients' need for sufficient chewing ability and a healthy occlusion as the presence of 4 occlusal units.
Source: Dental Abstracts - Category: Dentistry Tags: Hands On Source Type: research