title: Mandibular flexure and its significance on implant fixed prostheses: a review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this review are to determine the effect of mandibular flexure on the "implant-framework system," and analyze the existing literature on the topic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A MEDLINE and PubMed search was conducted to identify any articles in English related to the topic published up to May 2010 using the search words "mandible,""dental implants,""dental impression technique,""jaw movement,""dental stress analysis," and "mechanical stress."
  
  
  RESULTS
  The search identified 40 and 36 articles from MEDLINE and PubMed, respectively. Twenty articles met the inclusion criteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mandibular flexure is a multifactorial phenomenon, and the effect of the implant-framework system in this is unclear. Studies have focused mainly on the fully edentulous mandible. These have found that mandibular flexure should be taken into consideration when designing a prosthesis and have suggested that dividing the prosthesis at the symphysis region, or into multiple implant fixed dental prostheses, may minimize the effect of mandibular flexure on the implant prosthesis. At this time, no studies have investigated the effect of mandibular flexure on long-span, unilateral, implant fixed prostheses. The clinical significance of mandibular flexure on the success of dental implant treatment is at this time unclear, and further research is needed.
authors: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors: Constance
authors: C
authors: Law
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Bennani
authors: Karl
authors: K
authors: Lyons
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Swain
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015921:Dental Implants; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement; D018583:Pliability; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants