title: Optimum design for glass fiber-reinforced composite clasps using nonlinear finite element analysis.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to design an optimum glass fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) clasp. Three-dimensional finite element models were constructed of FRC circumferential clasp arms and an abutment tooth. The basic clasp arm was half-oval, without a taper, 2.60 mm wide and 1.30 mm thick. Four modified clasp arms were prepared by changing the width or thickness of the basic clasp (width/thickness: 2.60 mm/0.65 mm, 2.60 mm/1.95 mm, 1.30 mm/1.30 mm, and 3.90 mm/1.30 mm). Forced displacements of 5 mm in the removal direction were applied to the nodes at the base of the clasp arm. The retentive forces and maximum tensile stresses of the five FRC clasp arms ranged from 1.00-16.30 N and from 58.9-151 MPa, respectively. Results showed that an optimum FRC clasp was a circumferential clasp with 2.60 mm width and 1.30 mm thickness, which had sufficient retentive force and low risk of tensile failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Field of Oral and Maxillofacial Rehabilitation, Course for Advanced Therapeutics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan. maru@dent.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishi
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuru
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nagaoka
mesh_terms: D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D000044:Dental Abutments; D016734:Dental Clasps; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D005544:Forecasting; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D018583:Pliability; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; C009753:fiberglass