Deformation Resistance of Palatal Plate Connectors in Removable Partial Dentures

Abstract

The aim of our study was to evaluate the deformation resistance of two palatal plate type connectors of removable partial dentures and to make a comparison between the reduced palatal plates and the large ones, in terms of bending resistance during function. We tested 10 maxillary class I Kennedy removable partial dentures made for real clinical cases and duplicated their connectors, 5 of each type. A Universal Loading Machine was used to apply a bilateral progressive force to the PM2-M1 area until the samples bended, recording the force value at which the first change occurred. The results were analyzed using the ANOVA method. For the reduced palatal plate group, the minimum bending force value was 1584 N, the maximum bending force value being 2920 N. For the large palatal plate group, the minimum bending force value was 3150 N, the maximum value being 3380 N. Statistical analysis of data using the ANOVA method shows that the results are statistically relevant, with a p value of 0,001031 (p[0,05). The results showed that decreasing the width of the palatal plate can have a significant effect on the deformation resistance of the major connector and can affect its rigidity; in clinical practice, these results can help dentists to use alternative appropriate design methods of increasing the rigidity of reduced palatal plates, in order to protect both the remaining structures and the acrylic components of the dentures during the years of its functioning. Keywords: palatal plate, removable partial denture, deformation resistance