Frictional resistance of removable partial dentures with retrofitted resin composite guide planes

Frictional resistance to the dislodging forces of a removable partial denture with and without resin composite retrofitted guide planes was compared in vitro. Six master models of four natural teeth, each simulating a Kennedy Class III modification 1 arch, were used. Guide planes were prepared, and 18 cobalt-chromium removable partial denture frameworks without clasps were fabricated. Three resin composite materials were applied to the guide planes as retrofitting materials. Following this, the resistance to dislodgment of the removable partial denture framework was evaluated under cyclic dislodgment, and the resistance to dislodgment before and after resin composite retrofitted guide planes was compared. The dislodgment force was recorded every 500 cycles. Testing was concluded when the dislodging force value reached 50% of the initial value. There was a significant difference between the dislodging forces with and without retrofitted guide planes. Higher dislodging forces were recorded when resin composite retrofitted guide planes were used. Z100 was the most effective retrofitting material under cyclic dislodgment, and Heliomolar and Herculite XR performed similarly.