Mechanical considerations for the implant tooth-supported fixed partial denture.

The implant tooth-supported fixed partial denture presents a biomechanical design problem, because the implant is rigidly fixed within the alveolus, and the tooth is surrounded by a periodontal ligament that allows movement. Nonrigid fixed partial denture designs are advocated by some dentists as a method of compensating for this differential movement. Rigid fixed partial denture designs, however, are advocated by many clinicians. Studies have failed to show the advantage of one design over the other. This study developed an in vitro method for testing such prosthesis designs and measured movement of a natural tooth abutment during simulated function. The movement of the natural tooth abutment was not found to change substantially with the fixed partial denture designs tested.