Assessment of Partial Edentulism Based on Kennedy’s Classification System

Abstract

Edentulism is the state of being edentulous without natural teeth in the oral cavity. Edentulism leads to impairment of normal function, aesthetics, Comfort and speech which is followed by sequelae of undesirable events which includes occlusal discrepancies, migration and spacing of surrounding teeth, loss of space, supra eruption of teeth and temporomandibular disorders. The Variation in the number and location of the edentulous spaces and its complex relation to the remaining tooth structure or the natural teeth constrains the need to classify the partial edentulous arches. The aim of the current study was to assess the frequency of partial edentulism according to Kennedy's classification system. The retrospective study was conducted among the outpatient department of Saveetha Dental College and Hospital from June 2019- august 2019. The patient data was assessed. The data were tabulated using MS-Excel. The data was then analysed using IBM SPSS software (version 20). Pearson's chi-square test was done. Male predilection (62%) was identified in relation to partial edentulism. The most frequently observed edentulism in maxillary and mandibular arch was Kennedy's class III (23% and 21% respectively). While Kennedy class I and II were observed in patients aged between 50-80 years (11% and 14% respectively), whereas Kennedy's class IV was majorly observed among patients aged between 20-30 years (5%) (p<0.05). There was an increased frequency of Kennedy’s class I and II pattern and a decline in Kennedy’s class III and IV with increase in age.