The Role of Denture Adhesives on the Oral Health of Partial Denture Wearers: A Numerical Study

Removable partial dentures (RPDs) significantly influence the mechanical stress characteristics of the entire dental arch. Unlike normal teeth, they are not anchored firmly in the jaws and hence are prone to denture slippage. The aim of this study is to examine numerically using finite element (FE) method, the role of denture adhesive creams in the stress response of the dental structures, and to understand its impact on the oral health of denture wearers. For this purpose, computer tomography data of the jawbone and RPDs are utilized to develop corresponding 3D models, which are further used for FE simulations. The partial denture system is bonded onto the surface of the oral mucosa with the help of a viscoelastic adhesive layer and is also supported by three abutment teeth. The application of bite forces on the denture generates varying contact mechanical response to the stimulus, across the partial denture, which are compared with the clinical pressure pain threshold (PPT) value for soft tissue, which potentially lowers the risk of pain. The model with the denture adhesive shows better retention and are within the PPT and hence can potentially lower the risks associated with denture slippage.