[A transducer for the measurement of torque transmitted to abutment teeth of removable partial dentures]

A transducer for the measurement of torque transmitted to abutment teeth of removable partial dentures was newly developed. The transducer was composed of a right cylinder (12.0 mm x 3.5 mmø) made of phosphor bronze as the torsion bar, to the surface of which two strain gauges (KFC-2-D2-11, KYOWA) are adhered symmetrically about the axis of the bar. Torque transmitted to the transducer was detected and evaluated as tensile strain and compressive strain on the torsion bar surface by means of strain gauges. The transducer was small enough to be easily applied to removable partial dentures for the measurement of torque transmitted to crowns of abutment teeth, and showed satisfactory precision (The instrumental error in measurement was within 3%). In the present study, the newly developed transducer was revealed to be useful for the measurement of torque transmitted to crowns of abutment teeth by removable partial dentures.