Abstract
There is little if any documentation regarding the pattern of tooth loss among the adult population living in Saudi Arabia, especially in the western region. The aim of this study was to investigate patterns of tooth loss in patients treated at King AbdulAziz University - Faculty of Dentistry and to compare it over five years with the documentation of the number and types of removable partial dentures provided as well as patients gender, nationality and mother tongue. Materials and methods: the dental records of patients treated by sixth year students at King AbdulAziz University - Faculty of Dentistry during the academic years 2004 and 2009 were reviewed to record patients' nationality, age, gender, mother tongue and Kennedy classification in both arches. The type and number of removable prosthesis provided were also noted. Results: Descriptive analysis and comparison between the groups was performed using Micro soft excel statistical programme. A total of 293 charts were reviewed and Kennedy Class III was found to be the most common classification in the entire sample. The construction of definitive removable partial dentures was three folds that of transitional removable partial dentures. Conclusion: in a selected sample of patients receiving dental treatment at the faculty of dentistry in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the most common pattern of partial edentulism was Kennedy Class III and definitive partial dentures was the first choice for treatment with removable prosthesis. [Lana A. Shinawi. Partial edentulism: a five year survey on the prevalence and pattern of tooth loss in a sample of patients attending King AbdulAziz University - Faculty of Dentistry. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):2665-2671]. (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 395