The Influence of Interproximal Contact on Implant-Supported Fixed Partial Dentures in the Posterior Jaw: A Photoelastic Analysis
The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the separation of prosthetic crowns from fixed partial dentures by means of stress gradient evaluation. Three photoelastic models were created to examine contiguous implants with varying contact between the crowns (contact point [CP], contact surface [CS], splinted [SP]). The SP group presented the best results, followed by the CS group, indicating that the use of splinted prosthetic crowns and crowns with broad surface contacts is viable when considering the stress values.
Figure 1. (a) Acrylic matrix dimensions; interproximal contact details: point contact (b), surface contact (c) and splinted (d). Figure 2. (a) Acrylic matrix fixed into the articulated box. (b) Photoelastic models contact point (CP), contact surface (CS), and splinted (SP). (c) Adjustable table of x, y, and z directions with a-type loading. (d) a-type loading. (e) b-type loading. (f) c-type loading. (g) Circular polariscope and loading cell.
Figure 3. (a) Mesh of 27 points. (b) Mesh of 12 points—zoom of the crestal bone region. Figure 4. Representative images of stress distribution in groups contact point, a (CPa) (a), contact surface, a (CSa) (b), and splinted, a (SPa) (c). Figure 5. Mean values of shear stress (t) for a-type loading.
Figure 6. Representative images of stress distribution in groups contact point, b (CPb) (a), contact surface, b (CSb) (b), and splinted, b (SPb) (c). Figure 7. Mean values of shear stress (t) for b-type loading. Figure 8. Mean values of shear stress (t) of the bone crest region of #19 implant for b-type loading.
Figure 9. Representative images of the stress distribution in groups contact point, c (CPc) (a), contact surface, c (CSc) (b), and splinted, c (SPc) (c). Figures 10. Mean values of shear stress (t) for c-type loading. Figure 11. Mean values of shear stress (t) of the bone crest region of #20 implant for c-type loading.
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