Additional Supplementary Support of a Short Implant for the Distal Cantilever Partial Prosthesis

Abstract

Backgrounds. The placement of dental implants is restricted by various anatomic limitations such as an insufficient residual ridge height. Cantilever extensions in implant-supported prosthetic partial dentures may result in unfavorable loading on the abutment fixtures. Adjunct support of the distal cantilever partial denture by a short implant at distal extension area may reduce the overloading on the dental abutment implants. Purpose. To examine the stress distribution on an additional short implant at different location of a distal cantilever prosthesis. Material and methods. Two 10 mm and one 6mm titanium rods resemble the regular osseointegrated dental implant were embedded in the resin block. The short 6mm titanium rod was used to support the distal cantilever extension of the prosthesis. Three different distances between the regular and short titanium rods (10, 16, 22 mm) were established and were tested the strain around all the titanium rods when 400N loading force directly applied on the titanium rod at presumed first molar position. Results. Introducing an adjunct short implant to support the cantilever segment of a prosthesis can significantly reduce the strain around all implants (P＜0.05). When the short implant was placed at 22mm distal to the distal regular implant, the applied force can be even distributed. Conclusion. Assisting support a short implant at distal extension area can reduce the unfavorable cantilever effect on the cantilever prosthesis.