Stress Analysis of Implant-Supported Removable Partial Denture with Anterior Fixed Prostheses and Conventional Implant-Supported Overdentures in the Edentulous Mandible

Aim: To compare new design implant-supported removable partial dentures retained with anterior fixed prosthesis with a conventional locater and bar attached implant overdenture prostheses retained by two or four implants via photoelastic stress analysis. Materials and Methods: Seven edentulous mandibuler acryclic models prepared and divided into two main groups; two to four implant models, subgroup separation as stated; for two implant models overdenture with locator attachment, crown design retained removable prosthesis with clasp retention, bridge design retained removable prosthesis with clasp retention, bridge design retained removable prosthesis with precision attachment retention; and for four implant models prosthesis with bar attachment overdenture, fixed bridge design retained removable prosthesis with clasp retention, fixed retained removable prosthesis with precision attachment retention. A 300 N load was applied to the first premolars. Photoelastic stress analysis method that is a specific method concerning stress visualization, and does not require statistical analysis, was used. The stress distributions were seen in optically using a poloriscope. Results: In the models with two implant-retained removable partial dentures, the stress distribution was found to be lower than that with the four implant-retained removable partial dentures. Nonsplinted implants caused high stress around the distal implant on the loading side. Conclusion: The stress loads were transmitted to other implants by splinting. Implant-supported removable partial dentures with an anterior fixed prosthetic design show lower stress distributions compared with bar retained prosthesis. These dentures appear to be advantageous in terms of stress transmission.