EVALUATION OF STRESSES TRANSMITTED TO THE PRINCIPAL ABUTMENTS IN SUBJECTS WITH CLASS IV KENNEDYS CLASSIFICATION

Abstract

The composite type of support in class IV removable partial denture leads to movement of the denture base under loading, which leads to transmission of great amount of stresses to the abutment teeth. Many methods have been proposed to control the undesirable stresses, among these methods is the use of different types of direct retainers.

In this study strain gauge technology was used to evaluate the amount of stresses transmitted to the abutments and the edentulous ridge m a maxillary class IV Kennedy classification removable partial denture case.

A model resembling maxillary class IV Kennedy classification was simulated from a patient, this model replicated all the anatomic features of the teeth with its periodontal ligament and the edentulous area with the resilient mucosa.

Full metal crowns were constructed to the principal abutments and was splinted to the distal tooth on both sides of the maxillary arch, two partial denture designs were constructed one with an I bar clap direct retainer and the other with an extracoronal precision attachment.