Prevalence of Partial Edentulism Based on Kennedy Classification in a Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND

Partial edentulism remains a common oral health condition with significant functional and prosthodontic implications. The Kennedy classification system is widely used for categorizing partially edentulous arches due to its simplicity and clinical applicability.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and distribution of Kennedy Class I-IV partial edentulism according to age, gender, and jaw involvement among patients attending a teaching hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data obtained from hospital records. The study included 328 patients diagnosed with Kennedy Class I-IV partial edentulism who attended the Prosthodontics Department between January 2023 and December 2023. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS software. Descriptive statistics were used to determine frequencies and percentages.

RESULTS

Among 328 partially edentulous patients, Kennedy Class I was the most prevalent (46.3%), followed by Class III (25.6%) and Class II (21.3%), while Class IV was the least frequent (6.7%). Class I and II were more commonly observed in the mandible, whereas Class III and IV predominated in the maxilla. Females showed a higher prevalence of Class I and III, while Class II and IV were more frequent among males. The highest proportion of partial edentulism was observed in the 41-50-year age group.

CONCLUSION

Kennedy Class I was the most prevalent pattern of partial edentulism in the studied population, while Class IV was the least common. Distribution patterns varied according to age, gender, and jaw involvement. These findings provide useful epidemiological data for prosthodontic treatment planning and oral health service development.