Effect of splinting on abutment tooth movement

Area of Science:

• Dental Prosthetics
• Biomechanical Engineering
• Periodontology

Background:

• Removable partial dentures (RPDs) often rely on abutment teeth for support and retention.
• Abutment tooth movement can compromise RPD stability and lead to complications.
• Understanding factors influencing abutment tooth mobility is essential for prosthetic success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the biomechanical effect of splinting on abutment tooth movement in an in vitro model.
• To quantify the reduction in tooth movement under various loading conditions when abutments are splinted.

Main Methods:

• An in vitro study using an acrylic resin mandibular model with simulated missing molars.
• Fabrication of a removable partial denture framework and application of silicone rubber to abutment roots and edentulous ridges.
• Utilized a modified Ney surveyor for controlled unilateral load application and a macroperiodontometer for precise measurement of abutment tooth movement.
• Evaluated four conditions: single abutments, load-side double abutment, non-load-side double abutment, and double abutments on both sides.

Main Results:

• A significant reduction in the magnitude of abutment tooth movement was observed when abutment teeth were splinted.
• Splinting effectively decreased the mobility of teeth acting as RPD abutments across tested loading scenarios.

Conclusions:

• Splinting is an effective method for minimizing undesirable abutment tooth movement in removable partial denture applications.
• This technique can enhance the stability and potentially improve the long-term prognosis of RPDs by reducing stress on individual abutment teeth.