On functional strain in fixed mandibular reconstructions. II. An in vivo study

Six linear strain gauges and one rosette strain gauge were used on one partially dentate subject to study various types of functional deformation in a six-unit conventionally designed fixed mandibular bridge and a five-unit cantilever fixed mandibular bridge. The results of this study show that the clinical straining pattern was complex and different from those recorded in laboratory model studies of the same case. It was therefore concluded that functional deformations of fixed dental appliances can be studied accurately only in clinical experiments. Fundamentally different straining patterns were observed between the conventionally designed bridge and the cantilever one. The clinical significance of these results are discussed in relation to prosthetic treatment with various types of fixed-bridge constructions.