Marcelo Goiato, Paula do Prado Ribeiro, Eduardo Pellizzer, Aldieris Pesqueira, Marcela Haddad, Daniela dos Santos, Amalia Moreno
Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 17, Issue 6, 061203, (May 2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.17.6.061203
TOPICS: Photoelasticity, Systems modeling, Photoelastic analysis, Silicon, Telecommunications, Bone, Tissues, Biomedical optics, Dental materials, Biological research
The use of photoelastic analysis contributes to the rehabilitation of patients with oral-sinus-nasal sequelae, which in turn affect important functions such as chewing, swallowing, and speech. The prosthetic rehabilitation with implant-retained dentures is a suitable treatment option. The purpose of this study was to verify, by using a photoelastic analysis, the stress distribution in implant-retained palatal obturator dentures (relined or not) associated with different attachment systems (O-ring, bar-clip, and bar-clip associated with distally placed O-rings). Two photoelastic models were obtained from an experimental maxillary cast presenting an oral-nasal communication. One model had two 13-mm length implants placed on the left region. A total of eight colorless maxillary obturators were fabricated and subsequently four of them were relined with soft silicone soft, and three had attachment systems associated. The assembly (model/attachment system/prosthesis) was positioned in a circular polariscope and a 100-N load was applied at 10 mm/s. The results showed that the denture relining influenced the distribution and amount of stress on the models. The O-ring group displayed the lowest stress levels, followed by bar-clip system associated with distally placed O-rings and bar-clip groups.