The shortened dental arch concept: A treatment modality for the partially dentate patient

Acceptable oral health, throughout life, is the retention of a functional, esthetic, natural dentition of not less than 20 teeth and not requiring recourse to prostheses. This implies that adult patients have adequate oral functionality when the posterior-most teeth are the second premolars. The concept of the shortened but functional dental arch addresses this issue, and the literature indicates that the Shortened Dental Arch (SDA) does not contradict current occlusal theories, while offering some important advantages. In particular, the SDA protocol decreases the emphasis on restorative treatments for the posterior regions of the mouth. It, thus, avoids the risk of over-treatment of the patient, while still providing a high standard of care and minimizing cost.