Keeping the Partial Denture in Harmony with Biologic Limitations

Abstract

There are certain fundamental consider­ ations which have a positive influence upon the rendering of partial denture service. The first of these, which pre­ sumably has been fulfilled, is, “ Partial denture service should begin with the establishment of a condition of oral health, in so far as this is possible.” 1 A second basic fundamental is, “ A major objective of partial denture service should be the preservation of the remaining oral tissues.” 1 T o accomplish the latter with any de­ gree of regularity, the functional stress load must be allocated in accordance with the patient’ s ability to assume such additional stresses. In this connection, another most important influencing fac­ tor becomes apparent: “ Since the phys­ iological tissue tolerance of individuals varies greatly, the stress load induced by the partial denture should be directed toward the minimal in order not to ex­ ceed the point of individual tolerance.” 1 In designing the partial denture, it is necessary to analyze the stresses antici­ pated, to seek their causes and control, and to consider the character of the tis­ sues against which they may be directed. In 1936, at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, De Van2 of Philadelphia urged an audience particularly interested in problems of prosthodontics to “ strive to preserve that which remains, rather than to meticulously replace that which is