summaryThe relationship between a removable partial denture (RPD) and damage caused to residual oral structures is the subject of on‐going research. A group of patients wearing RPD, treated in the same way in the same department, were recalled to evaluate their oral hygiene and to compare the clinical condition of abutment teeth with that of non‐abutment teeth. The study shows that most patients were unable to maintain high standards of oral hygiene. In the group of patients with non‐optimal hygiene the clinical condition of abutment teeth was worse than that of non‐abutment teeth. In the group of patients with optimal oral hygiene the condition of abutment teeth and non‐abutment teeth was almost identical. To increase the standards of oral hygiene it is strongly advisable to recall and follow up patients on a regu