[Stress distribution of supporting tissues under denture. Application of visco-elastic analysis in prosthetic field]

Viscoelastic finite element method was attempted to apply to the removable prosthodontic field. To examine the accuracy of this analysis, the results obtained from creep test of soft lining materials were compared with the calculated results by using this analysis. Stress relaxation in the supporting tissue under the upper complete denture was simulated by using viscoelastic analysis. The results were as follows; 1. The calculated results were in approximate agreement with experiment. 2. When the occlusal table of the denture was move 0.3 mm to the vertical direction, the calculated results indicated the soft tissue acted as a part of the stress relaxation in the supporting structures. 3. By using viscoelastic analysis, the time dependent deformation of the denture base and stress distributions in the supporting structures could be simulated.