Comparing the influence of cuspal angulation, occlusal loading, and connector widths between tooth- and implant-supported zirconia fixed dental prosthesis.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have established the relationship between connector widths, cuspal angulation, loading forces, and supporting structures of zirconia fixed dental prosthesis (FDP). The objective of the study was to compare the stress distribution in implant- and tooth-supported zirconia FDP with different connector designs, and cuspal angulations of replaced teeth under diverse angulations of forces.

METHODS: Finite element (FE) analysis was done by simulating a 3-unit implant- and tooth-supported FDP. FE models with varying cuspal angulations 0°, 20°, and 33° and connector designs 2 mm, 2.5 mm, and 3 mm was generated. The simulated models were loaded with 100 N of forces under different axial and non-axial angulations. The graphical and numerical stresses were observed, recorded, and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS: Higher stress of 245.55 MPa in implant-supported FDP and lower stress value of 28.22 MPa in tooth-supported FDP was observed at 0-cuspal inclination for 3 mm connector width. The data were statistically analyzed with unpaired t test to eliminate the differences. The inter-group, intra-group tests, p and t values for various connector, and tooth angulations of tooth- and implant-supported FDP were statistically insignificant. (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference in stress was observed between tooth- and implant-supported FDP for different connector widths, cuspal inclination, and diverse angulation of forces.