Influence of length and diameter of implants associated with distal extension removable partial dentures

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the length and diameter of the implant incorporated under the saddle of a distal-extension removable partial denture, acting as support.

Six hemi-mandibular models were made with the presence of left inferior cuspid and first bicuspid, with the following differences: model A, without removable partial denture; model B, removable partial denture only; model C, removable partial denture and implant of 3.75 x x mm; model D, removable partial denture and implant of 3.75 x x3 mm; model E, removable partial denture and implant of 5 x x mm; and model F, removable partial denture and implant of 5 x x3 mm. These models were designed with the aid of AutoCAD 2000 (Autodesk, Inc., San Rafael, CA) and processed for finite element analysis by ANSYS 5.4 (Swanson Analysis Systems, Houston, PA). The loads applied were 50 N vertical on each cuspid point.

It was noted that the presence of the removable partial denture overloaded the supporting tooth and other structures. The introduction of the implant reduced tensions, mainly at the extremities of the edentulous edge. Both the length and diameter tended to reduce tensions as their dimensions increased.

Increasing the length of the implant had a great influence on the decrease of displacement and von Mises tension values. Increasing the diameter of the implant had a great influence on the decrease of von Mises tension values, but did not influence the displacement values. According to the results of this study, it is a good choice to use the greater and larger implant possible in the association between implant and distal extension removable partial denture.