Patients' Satisfaction and Clinical Investigation of Removable Partial Denture Anchorage With Extracoronal Adhesive Attachments in Comparison With Clasp-retained Partial Dentures
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Patients' satisfaction and clinical investigation of removable partial denture anchorage with extracoronal adhesive attachments, Patients' satisfaction and clinical investigation of removable partial denture anchorage with conventional clasps.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Extracoronal Adhesive Attachment, Clasp-retained Partial Dentures, Patients Satisfaction With Removable Dental Prostheses. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Switzerland
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Overview
Removable partial dentures (RPD) are a well-established treatment option for the prosthetic rehabilitation of partially edentulous patients. They are retained at the remaining natural teeth by clasps to provide functional stability. As an alternative to clasps extacoronal adhesive attachments are fixed to the abutment teeth using adhesive cementation techniques. These adhesive attachments improve retention and stability of the prostheses and are indicated when the patient requires a non-visible retention element and healthy coronal tooth structure is available as a prerequisite. In clinical practice, extracoronal adhesive attachments offer a minimally invasive and aesthetic anchoring alternative of removable dental prostheses associated with higher costs compared to a common clasp retention. As a result, adhesive attachments are relatively rarely used and are technically sensitive both in the clinical realisation and in terms of the dental technology. Hence, limited scientific data are available regarding their long-term clinical behaviour, but no data is available about patients' satisfaction with such extracoronal adhesive attachments. This research project aims to investigate patients' satisfaction with extracoronal adhesive attachments (group A) of removable dental prostheses in comparison to clasps (group B), and to investigate the short- and long-term clinical performance of both treatment options. This is a non-interventional observational study. Only routine clinical examinations are performed. No additional risks or burdens arise for participants. All measures fall under minimal risk A according to ClinO, Art. 61. Overall risk: Minimal. No invasive procedures or biological sampling. Ethical and legal standards are fully met. Sex and gender dimensions are not relevant to the topic of the study as the population is determined by patients treated since 2001 and cannot be influenced by the study design.
Interventions
- Other Patients' satisfaction and clinical investigation of removable partial denture anchorage with extracoronal adhesive attachments
* Completion of a questionnaire by the participant, including patient satisfaction on VAS (visual analogue scale) and prostheses usability, clinical examination of the remaining dentition, the abutment teeth of the extracoronal adhesive attachment and the RPD. * Evaluation of the attachment's condition, retention, and any signs of biological or technical complications. * Collection of relevant medical and dental history from patients' records (consent provided). - Other Patients' satisfaction and clinical investigation of removable partial denture anchorage with conventional clasps
* Completion of a questionnaire by the participant, including patient satisfaction on VAS (visual analogue scale) and prostheses usability, clinical examination of the remaining dentition, the abutment teeth of the clasps and the RPD. * Evaluation of the clasps' condition, retention, and any signs of biological or technical complications. * Collection of relevant medical and dental history from patients' records (consent provided).
Primary outcome measures
- Patients' satisfaction with extracoronal adhesive attachments (group A) compared to conventional clasp-retained prostheses (group B) on a visual analogue scale (VAS) [Time frame: From 2001 to present (RDP with retention element has to be in place for at least 6 months)]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Occurrence of biological complications associated with the use of extracoronal adhesive attachments and conventional clasps [Time frame: From 2001 to present (RDP with retention element has to be in place for at least 6 months)]
- Occurrence of technical complications associated with the use of extracoronal adhesive attachments and conventional clasps [Time frame: From 2001 to present (RDP with retention element has to be in place for at least 6 months)]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Signed informed consent.
- Patients with at least one extracoronal adhesive attachment for anchoring an RPD and patients with clasp-retained RPD during a 25-year period (2001 - 2025) at the Department for Reconstructive Dentistry or the affiliated student course.
- The attachment or clasp must have been in place for a minimum of six months at the time of clinical follow-up.
- Sufficient availability of medical/dental records
- Age ≥18 years at time of initial treatment.
- Ability to attend a clinical follow-up appointment.
Exclusion criteria
- Patients unable to provide informed consent.
- Incomplete or missing documentation of the prosthetic treatment.
- Attachments or clasps inserted less than six months ago.
- Inability to attend the follow-up appointment or language barriers preventing study understanding.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Switzerland · 1 center
- Universitäres Zentrum für Zahnmedizin Basel - Klinik für Rekonstruktive Zahnmedizin — Basel
Publications
- Schaffer H. [Clinical results of partial denture anchorage using extracoronal bonded attachments]. Dtsch Zahnarztl Z. 1990 Jun;45(6):326-8. German. PMID 2269117
- Besimo C, Gachter M, Jahn M, Hassell T. Clinical performance of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures and extracoronal attachments for removable prostheses. J Prosthet Dent. 1997 Nov;78(5):465-71. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3913(97)70061-1. PMID 9399188
- Dula LJ, Kelmendi TZ, Shala K, Staka G, Pustina-Krasniqi T, Kosumi S. Attachment-Retained versus Clasp-Retained Removable Partial Dentures: Effects of Retention on Patient Satisfaction. Eur J Dent. 2025 Jul;19(3):823-834. doi: 10.1055/s-0044-1795122. Epub 2024 Dec 30. PMID 39750515
- Kraljevic I, Glenz F, Jordi C, Zimmermann SD, Joda T, Zitzmann NU. Long-Term Observation of Post Copings Retaining Overdenture Prostheses. Int J Prosthodont. 2020 Mar/Apr;33(2):169-175. doi: 10.11607/ijp.6629. PMID 32069341
- Zitzmann NU, Rohner U, Weiger R, Krastl G. When to choose which retention element to use for removable dental prostheses. Int J Prosthodont. 2009 Mar-Apr;22(2):161-7. PMID 19418863
- Brandt S, Winter A, Lauer HC, Romanos G. Retrospective clinical study of 842 clasp-retained removable partial dentures with a metal framework: survival, maintenance needs, and biologic findings. Quintessence Int. 2024 Oct 24;55(9):704-711. doi: 10.3290/j.qi.b5566187. PMID 38985439
- Garling A, Krummel A, Kern M. Outcomes of resin-bonded attachments for removable dental prostheses. J Prosthodont Res. 2024 Jan 16;68(1):100-104. doi: 10.2186/jpr.JPR_D_22_00306. Epub 2023 May 20. PMID 37211411
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07160660 · PSCI2025