Effect of varying the vertical dimension of connectors of cantilever cross-arch fixed dental prostheses in patients with severely reduced osseous support: A three-dimensional finite element analysis

Manda, Marianthi; Galanis, Christos; Georgiopoulos, Vasilis; Provatidis, Christofer; Koidis, Petros

doi:10.1016/S0022-3913(10)60012-1

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Volume 103, Issue 2 , Pages 91-100, February 2010

Effect of varying the vertical dimension of connectors of cantilever cross-arch fixed dental prostheses in patients with severely reduced osseous support: A three-dimensional finite element analysis

Marianthi Manda, DDS, MSc
- PhD candidate, Department of Fixed Prosthesis and Implant Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Christos Galanis, PhD
- Research Associate, Section of Mechanical Design and Control Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Vasilis Georgiopoulos, PhD
- Research Associate, Section of Mechanical Design and Control Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Christofer Provatidis, MSc, PhD
- Associate Professor, Section of Mechanical Design and Control Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Petros Koidis, DDS, MSc, PhD
- Professor and Chairman, Department of Fixed Prosthesis and Implant Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Corresponding author: Dr Petros Koidis, Department of Fixed Prosthesis and Implant Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, Dentistry Building, GR 54124, Thessaloniki, GREECE, Fax: +30 2310 999676

Statement of problem

Inadequate dimensioning of the connectors in a cantilever cross-arch fixed dental prosthesis (FDP) in perioprosthetic patients jeopardizes the prognosis of the restoration.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of increasing the vertical dimension (VD) on the maximum stress developed within the connectors during the static loading of a cross-arch FDP extended as a 1- and 2-unit cantilever.

Material and methods

Six digital models were developed, derived from a 3-dimensional (3-D) initial model. In the initial model, the teeth were prepared for metal ceramic restorations and splinted with a cross-arch FDP, extended as a 1- or 2-unit cantilever. The VDs of the connectors proximal to the retaining abutment were 3, 4, or 5 mm. A 3-D finite element analysis (FEA) was performed.

Results

The VD increase, from 3 to 4 mm and from 3 to 5 mm, of the connector distal to the retaining abutment, for each FDP, presented a maximum stress value decrease of approximately 25% and 48%, respectively. The similar VD increase of the connector mesial to the retaining abutment, for each FDP, resulted in relatively smaller stress changes. For the 2-unit cantilever restoration, the stress decreases were approximately 9% and 15%, respectively, whereas in the 1-unit cantilever restoration, the decrease was about 10% for the 4-mm connector. Further increase of the VD to 5 mm did not relieve the peak stress. The highest stress value was measured on the 3-mm connector distal to the retaining abutment in the 2-unit cantilever restoration. Despite the VD increase, the connectors proximal to the retaining abutment still developed the highest stress values of all the connectors for every model.

Conclusions

The connector with the highest risk of failure is the 3-mm connector distal to the retaining abutment of the 2-unit cantilever restoration. Increasing the vertical dimension is beneficial for the connector distal to the retaining abutment, while the resultant stress changes are not substantial for the connectors mesial to the retaining abutment. (J Prosthet Dent 2010;103:91-100)