Effect of varying the vertical dimension of connectors of cantilever cross-arch fixed dental prostheses in patients with severely reduced osseous support: a three-dimensional finite element analysis.
BACKGROUND
Inadequate dimensioning of the connectors in a cantilever cross-arch fixed dental prosthesis (FDP) in perioprosthetic patients jeopardizes the prognosis of the restoration.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of increasing the vertical dimension (VD) on the maximum stress developed within the connectors during the static loading of a cross-arch FDP extended as a 1- and 2-unit cantilever.


METHODS
Six digital models were developed, derived from a 3-dimensional (3-D) initial model. In the initial model, the teeth were prepared for metal ceramic restorations and splinted with a cross-arch FDP, extended as a 1- or 2-unit cantilever. The VDs of the connectors proximal to the retaining abutment were 3, 4, or 5 mm. A 3-D finite element analysis (FEA) was performed.


RESULTS
The VD increase, from 3 to 4 mm and from 3 to 5 mm, of the connector distal to the retaining abutment, for each FDP, presented a maximum stress value decrease of approximately 25% and 48%, respectively. The similar VD increase of the connector mesial to the retaining abutment, for each FDP, resulted in relatively smaller stress changes. For the 2-unit cantilever restoration, the stress decreases were approximately 9% and 15%, respectively, whereas in the 1-unit cantilever restoration, the decrease was about 10% for the 4-mm connector. Further increase of the VD to 5 mm did not relieve the peak stress. The highest stress value was measured on the 3-mm connector distal to the retaining abutment in the 2-unit cantilever restoration. Despite the VD increase, the connectors proximal to the retaining abutment still developed the highest stress values of all the connectors for every model.


CONCLUSIONS
The connector with the highest risk of failure is the 3-mm connector distal to the retaining abutment of the 2-unit cantilever restoration. Increasing the vertical dimension is beneficial for the connector distal to the retaining abutment, while the resultant stress changes are not substantial for the connectors mesial to the retaining abutment. (J Prosthet Dent 2010;103:91-100).
Department of Fixed Prosthesis and Implant Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Marianthi
M
Manda
Christos
C
Galanis
Vasilis
V
Georgiopoulos
Christofer
C
Provatidis
Petros
P
Koidis
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003779:Denture Design; D003781:Denture Retention / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006047:Gold Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D008954:Models, Biological; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000503:physiopathology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D019231:Tooth Preparation, Prosthodontic / Q000379:methods
D006047:Gold Alloys; D016876:Metal Ceramic Alloys