Statement of problem: Although Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy has several excellent mechanical properties, its poor rigidity has limited its clinical use as a material for the fabrication of a removable partial denture (RPD) major connector.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate strengthening designs of Ti-6Al-7Nb RPD major connectors in an effort to increase rigidity.
Material and methods: Four strengthening designs of Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy major connectors were developed using finite element analysis modeling: wide, thick, thick at the middle, and thick at the anterior and posterior borders. The designs had similar rigidity values to a conventional Co-Cr alloy major connector, as measured by the maximum deformation when a simulated load was applied. Next, 30 Kennedy Class II maxillary RPD specimens, using 6 different major connector designs (n = 5), were fabricated. These 6 designs included Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy RPDs with 4 different strengthening designs, a Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy RPD without strengthening designs, and a conventional Co-Cr alloy RPD as a control. The rigidity of the RPDs was evaluated by measuring strains on the major connector and force on the intaglio surface of a denture base under a 30 N loading condition. The data obtained from the 6 different RPD designs were compared using a repeated measures analysis of variance and the Bonferroni correction (alpha=.05).
Results: The strains on the major connectors and the force on the denture bases measured from the Ti-6Al-7Nb RPD without strengthening designs were significantly larger than those of the standard Co-Cr alloy RPD. The strains measured from the 4 strengthening designs were not significantly larger than those of the Co-Cr alloy RPD.
Conclusion: The results suggest that the strengthening designs tested may improve the rigidity of the Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy major connectors and, hence, may promote clinical application for RPDs.