Functional mobility measurement of removable partial dentures using newly-developed analyzing system in six degrees of freedom--effect of cusp inclination of molar artificial teeth on denture displacement in function

Abstract

A measuring system to record three-dimensional displacement of removable partial dentures (RPDs) in six degrees of freedom has been developed. The system employed three pairs of photodiode and LED that were set up in a triangle. This system was capable of recording the in vivo RPD displacement with a recording sensitivity of 0.1 mm. In vivo displacement of upper RPDs with unilateral distal extension saddle was investigated using this measuring system to determine the effect of artificial cusp inclination of molar teeth on denture mobility. Two groups of different artificial dentition were switched to be attached to each of three experimental RPDs. The artificial teeth with cusp inclinations were calibrated to contact with opposing natural dentition during lateral grinding of the mandible, while the other artificial teeth were prepared to disclude with the mandibular teeth (flat-cusp group). Displacement range and average position of a reference point at the first molar of the RPDs during mastication were measured and analyzed as a function of the cusp inclination and the test food. As a result, the average displacement of the RPDs toward the edentulous ridge was smaller in the cusp group than that in the flat-cusp group, while the range of horizontal displacement in the buccal-palatal direction was greater in the former group than the latter. The denture wearers demonstrated typical grinding strokes at the end of the closing phase of the mandiblar movements when they chewed a peanut, which was attributed to a wide range of horizontal displacement of the dentures.