Effects of denture use on occlusal force on abutment teeth in molar distal-extension edentulism

Abstract

Purpose: The present clinical study aimed to investigate the load exerted on abutment teeth in patients with distal extension edentulism, with and without a removable partial denture (RPD).

Methods: A total of 55 volunteers with distal extension edentulism who were fitted with an RPD participated in the present study. Occlusal force was measured by having the patients bite down on an occlusal force measuring sheet, and the occlusal forces on both the abutment teeth and the entire dentition with and without the RPD were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (P < 0.05). The occlusal forces on the abutment and non-abutment teeth were also compared.

Results: The median total occlusal force with the RPD in place was significantly greater than that without the RPD, while the median occlusal force on the abutment teeth without the RPD in place was significantly greater than that on the abutment teeth with the RPD. The occlusal forces on the abutment teeth were significantly greater than those on the non-abutment teeth.

Conclusions: Within the limitations of the present study, we found that the occlusal forces were greater on the abutment than the non-abutment teeth, and that RPDs may reduce the occlusal forces on abutment teeth.