Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of differences in the retainer design on load on abutment teeth and displacement of the denture base in mandibular unilateral extension base partial removable dental prosthesis to determine the optimum design for a mechanically appropriate retainer.Methods: Three models were used. Each incorporating a removable denture with different designs of retainer positioned. In design A, Akers clasps were positioned over the first and second premolars. In design B, embrasure clasp was positioned over the first and second premolars. In design C, rest and back-action clasps were positioned over the first and second premolars, respectively. Loading on the occlusal surface of the dentures was performed in the vertical, oblique lingual and buccal directions. Load on the abutment teeth and displacement of the denture base were determined by the three-dimensional finite element method analysis.Results: Vertical and buccolingual load on the abutment teeth by lingual and buccal direction loading on the denture were smaller in designs B and C than in design A. However, the superioinferior and buccolingual displacement of the denture base by buccal direction loading on the denture were largest in design A. Superioinferior and buccolingual displacement of the denture base by the lingual direction loading on the denture were largest in design C.Conclusions: Under the conditions set in this study, the stability of design Awas greater than that of design B or C, but load on the abutment teeth was larger. (C) 2010 Japan Prosthodontic Society. Published by Elsevier Ireland. All rights reserved.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanically appropriate retainer design for unilateral distal-extension removable dentures.Methods: Two models were constructed, each with a different design of retainer placed on the first and second mandibular premolars. Each model was composed of bone, denture underlying mucosa, retainer and denture base. In design A, Akers clasps were set on the first and second premolars, and in design B, an occlusal rest and back-action clasp with mesial rest were set on the first and second premolars, respectively. Loading on the occlusal surface of the denture was performed in the vertical and oblique directions. Load on the abutment tooth and displacement of the denture base were determined by 3-dimensional finite element analysis.Results: Load on the abutment tooth in the vertical direction caused by vertical loading on the denture was lower in design B than in design A. No large difference in displacement of the denture base was observed between design A and B. Load on the abutment tooth both in the vertical and buccolingual direction induced by loading on the denture in the lingual and buccal directions was lower in design B than in design A. However, displacement of the denture base in the vertical and buccolingual directions induced by loading on the denture in the lingual direction was higher in design B than in design A.Conclusion: In this study, displacement of the denture base was smaller in design A than in design B, so design A would be more useful clinically than design B, but the abutment tooth would require greater support.