title: A comparative finite elemental analysis of glass abutment supported and unsupported cantilever fixed partial denture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the load distribution and displacement of cantilever prostheses with and without glass abutment by three dimensional finite element analysis. Micro-computed tomography was used to study the relationship between the glass abutment and the ridge.
  
  
  METHODS
  The external surface of the maxilla was scanned, and a simplified finite element model was constructed. The ZX-27 glass abutment and the maxillary first and second premolars were created and modified. The solid model of the three-unit cantilever fixed partial denture was scanned, and the fitting surface was modified with reference to the created abutments using the 3D CAD system. The finite element analysis was completed in ANSYS. The fit and total gap volume between the glass abutment and dental model were determined by Skyscan 1173 high-energy spiral micro-CT scan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the finite element analysis in this study showed that the cantilever prosthesis supported by the glass abutment demonstrated significantly less stress on the terminal abutment and overall deformation of the prosthesis under vertical and oblique load. Micro-computed tomography determined a gap volume of 6.74162 mm(3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By contacting the mucosa, glass abutments transfer some amount of masticatory load to the residual alveolar ridge, thereby preventing damage to the periodontal microstructures of the terminal abutment. The passive contact of the glass abutment with the mucosa not only preserves the health of the mucosa covering the ridge but also permits easy cleaning. It is possible to increase the success rate of cantilever FPDs by supporting the cantilevered pontic with glass abutments.
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Medical Sciences, Department of Dental Health, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ravikumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramakrishaniah
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Medical Sciences, Dental Biomaterials Research Chair, Department of Dental Health, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulaziz A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al Kheraif
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Medical Sciences, Dental Biomaterials Research Chair, Department of Dental Health, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Elsharawy
authors.affiliation: College of Applied Medical Sciences, Dental Biomaterials Research Chair, Department of Dental Health, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ayman K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Alsaleh
authors.affiliation: Advanced Manufacturing Institute, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Karem M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ismail Mohamed
authors.affiliation: Department of Material Science and Engineering, The Kroto Research Institute, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK. Electronic address: i.u.rehman@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ihtesham Ur
authors.initials: IU
authors.lastname: Rehman
mesh_terms: D001641:Bicuspid; D000044:Dental Abutments; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D003779:Denture Design; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008437:Maxilla; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
keywords: 3D analysis; Cantilever fixed partial denture; Finite element analysis; Gap volume; Micro-computed tomography; Prosthesis deformation; Terminal abutment stress; ZX-27 glass abutment