Abstract
Purpose: Aim of this study was to determine
patients' preference to acrylic resin major connector
analogues (MCA) that simulated strengthened
major connector designs formulated for Ti-6Al-
7Nb alloy. Materials and methods: Four MCA
namely wide design (Wide), design with 2
strengthening ridges (2SR), design with 1
strengthening ridge (1SR), and thick design
(Thick) were fabricated using light-polymerizing
acrylic resin for 10 patients with Kennedy Class I or
II partially edentulous maxillary arches. They were
asked to wear each MCA in the mouth for 30 seconds
in 6 pairs, and to report their preference for
each pair. Using these data the 4 MCA were
ranked in a descending preference order for each
patient. A within-subject comparison of preferences
was performed with the Friedman test and
multiple comparisons with Wilcoxon Signed
Ranks test. Results: A statistically significant
preference order was revealed: Wide, 1SR, 2SR,
and Thick (P<0.008). The wide design (P<0.004)
and the 1SR (P<0.01) were significantly preferred
to the thick design. However, individual data
showed that the first preference varied depending
upon the subject. Conclusion: Thinner designs
tended to be preferred to the thicker design by the
subjects, while none of the designs tested were
consistently selected as the best design.
