title: Strength analysis of a three-unit dental bridge framework with the Finite Element Method.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to analyse the strength of a prosthetic bridge with variable geometry in the connectors between the span and the retention elements on the pillar teeth crowns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research was carried using the Finite Elements Method (FEM) on a model of the bridge in the anterior teeth arch in the field 21-22-23, obtained using a contact scanner and computer aided design (CAD) system, with four different cross-sectional areas of the connectors: 4.0, 5.0, 5.5, and 6.0 mm2. For that purpose, the impact of the properties of selected metal alloys on the deflection of the prosthesis was analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the basis of the analyses, it was found that when the loading force acted obliquely, the stress was 19% higher compared to the stress with a loading vertical force. In the case of connectors with the smallest cross-sectional area, the stress exceeded permissible value (with safety factor n = 2) for one of the alloys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deflection of the bridges tested changed depending on the connector cross-section and the elastic modulus of the selected material.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Engineering and Biomaterials, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland.
authors.forename: Łukasz
authors.initials: Ł
authors.lastname: Reimann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Engineering and Biomaterials, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland.
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Żmudzki
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Engineering and Biomaterials, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland.
authors.forename: Leszek A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Dobrzański
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003442:Crowns; D000044:Dental Abutments; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design / Q000379:methods*; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D003778:Dentures; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D008422:Materials Testing; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013314:Stress, Mechanical