Comparative Study of Maximum Bite Force in Partial Dentures Made of Heat Cure Acrylic Resin and Flexible Nylon Material

Abstract

Aim: To compare and measure the maximum bite force of bounded saddle partial dentures made of heat cure acrylic resin and flexible nylon material opposing natural teeth with that of the opposite dentulous side and also to compare the maximum bite force between maxillary and mandibular bounded saddle partial dentures over different adaptation periods. Materials and methods: 10 partially edentulous Kennedy’s class III subjects were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Tooth bounded saddle removable partial dentures maxillary or mandibular made of heat cure acrylic resin were inserted and the bite force was measured using strain gauge transducer at different adaptation periods starting from 1, 15, 30, and 90 days. The acrylic dentures were replaced with flexible dentures after 90 days and the bite force was recorded at the same adaptation periods. The maximum bite force with acrylic and flexible partial dentures was evaluated. The bite force between the replaced side and opposite dentulous side was also evaluated and interpreted. Results: The mean comparison between acrylic and flexible tooth bounded partial dentures shows that flexible partial denture is having the highest mean p-value <0.001 than acrylic partial denture at different adaptation periods and it is statistically significant. The bite force increased with increased adaptation periods in both the groups. The bite force is higher in dentulous side compared to the replaced side. Conclusion: The flexible denture showed higher maximum bite force values than the acrylic partial denture with increased adaptation period. The maximum bite force in natural dentition side is higher than the replaced artificial teeth. This indicates that presence of physiological human factors influences the bite force and oral sensorimotor of the natural teeth. Clinical significance: Evaluation of bite force in the tooth bounded saddle with removable partial dentures made of different denture base materials helps us to understand better about the biomechanics of the prosthesis. This helps to rehabilitate the patient with proper denture base material to improve their chewing efficiency.