Stress analysis of disjunct removable partial dentures.

The (1) tooth-supported, (2) ridge-supported, and (3) tooth- and ridge-supported variations of the disjunct removable partial denture were studied. When testing loads were applied to three sites, bilaterally and unilaterally, it was found that the stresses were highest when the removable partial framework was tooth-support. No significant difference was recorded between the ridge-supported partial denture and the tooth- and ridge-supported partial framework. Further refinement of the pinsleeve mechanism may be necessary to effect better control over the distributions of the stresses.