Abutment positioning in a cantilevered shortened dental arch: a clinical report and static analysis

This article describes the extension of a shortened dental arch with a cantilever fixed partial denture in a patient who refused to be treated with an implant-supported and retained prosthesis. Orthodontic movement of the distal abutment to enlarge the interabutment span was performed before the final restoration. The mechanical advantage of the enlarged span in a cantilever fixed partial denture is analyzed, discussed, and demonstrated by 2-dimensional static analysis.