Since the concept of shortened dental arch was raised more than 20 years ago, many studies have suggested that the shortened dental arch could provide enough function including mastication, aesthetics, comfort and so on, and would not have negative effect on the stability of occlusion and temporomandibular joint or periodontal supporting tissues. In a word, the shortened dental arch comprising the anterior and premolar regions can
meet the requirements of a functional dentition and will be a kind of new prosthetic treatment. This paper was reviewed the influence of the shortened dental arch on oral function and periodontal support to offer theory basis to
clinic treatment.
