title: Connector design in a long-span-fixed dental prosthesis: a three-dimensional finite element analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of every prosthetic management is to simulate nature and be in harmony with nature within the physiological limits. The occlusal forces on a fixed dental prosthesis are transmitted to the surrounding structures through pontics, connectors and retainers and more stresses are seen at the connector region. To analyze the stress patterns in cast and soldered connectors between the two pontics and between the retainer and pontic of a four unit fixed dental prosthesis on axial and non axial loading and also to observe and ascertain the need to modify the design of the rigid connectors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subsequently four models each of cast and soldered connectors with cylindrical and triangular design, of dimension 3 × 4 mm and thickness 0.5 mm was designed for the study. The first premolar and second molar were considered as the abutments and 2 nd premolar and 1 st molar as the pontics. The analysis was done using ANSYS version 8.0 software and by placing axial and non-axial load of 40 Newtons each.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Von Misses stresses were observed at the connector region between the two pontics, especially in the cervical region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cylindrical cast connectors showed less stress in comparison to triangular design and the difference in the stress distribution of cast and soldered connectors were marginal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The occlusal forces on a fixed dental prosthesis are transmitted to the surrounding structures through pontics, connectors and retainers with maximum stresses concentrated at the connectors. Hence this three-dimensional finite element analysis study investigated stress distribution in a four unit posterior fixed dental prosthesis, having cylindrical and triangular connector designs.
authors: Department of Prosthodontics, M. S. Ramaiah Dental College and Hospital, M. S. R. I. T. Post, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: B H
authors: BH
authors: Harshitha Gowda
authors: C L
authors: CL
authors: Satish Babu
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D001732:Bite Force; D002858:Chromium Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003442:Crowns; D003735:Dental Casting Technique; D012994:Dental Soldering; D003779:Denture Design; D003781:Denture Retention / Q000295:instrumentation; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing; D010165:Palladium / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D002858:Chromium Alloys; D012834:Silver; D010165:Palladium