[Study on the dynamic behavior of mandibular distal-extension removable partial denture utilizing finite element...

Recently there have been a number of studies concerning the dynamic behavior of removable partial denture under the loading, but none of previous studies have dealt with non-linear analysis. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the usefulness of two-dimensional non-linear analysis. The behavior of abutment teeth and saddle in relation to the distribution of force on the teeth and the supporting tissues are the objects of this analysis. In this study, a comparative analysis between non-linear and linear analysis was performed utilizing finite element method. The results were as follows. 1. A two-dimensional model simulating the behavior of teeth and the supporting tissues in vitro could been made by changing the values of the Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of the periodontal membranes and the mucosa of edentulous alveolar ridge at two stages. 2. In the conditioned high loading (5 kg), displacement of abutment teeth and saddle in the linear analysis was larger than that of the non-linear analysis. 3. In the conditioned high loading (5 kg), the distribution of the force on the mesial abutments in linear analysis was larger than that of non-linear analysis. The results of this study suggested that the non-linear analysis was desirable in the conditioned masticatory and biting force.