Shielding the Pier Abutment Using a Nonrigid Connector.

The attachment of a fixed partial denture (FPD) on a pier abutment may be necessary in some partially edentulous instances because of the pattern of lost teeth. Nonetheless, it has been noted that using a stiff FPD to restore two lost teeth and an intermediate pier abutment is not the best course of action. In this case, using a stiff connector concentrates the stresses on the pier abutment. In this situation, the pier abutment serves as a pivot, increasing the debonding of the fixed dental prosthesis and ultimately compromising the success of the FPD. Connectors that are not stiff can solve these issues. A nonrigid connector allows abutments to move independently and distributes shear forces to the supporting bone. Instead of the typical rigid connector, the nonrigid connector serves as a stress breaker between the retainer and the pontic.