Effect of Obturation Technique on Stresses Induced in Telescopic Retained Partial Denture (In vitro Study)

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of obturation techniques on the stresses induced on the abutment teeth and the supported prosthesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A unilateral bounded edentulous space case design was chosen for this study, with telescopic retained partial dentures (TRPDs) selected as the treatment of choice. Two TRPDs were fabricated, the first pre-molar and second molar were used as abutments for the partial dentures. In the first group, the pre-molar was treated with the lateral compaction obturation technique. In the second group, the first pre-molar was treated with a vertical compaction obturation technique. The second molar was a common abutment in both groups and was left untreated. 50 Newtons were applied on the prostheses, with a strain gauge attached, and data were collected. RESULTS: t-test showed the mean values of microstrain (με) induced in pre-molars treated with lateral compaction was 159.64 ± 10.46 με, whereas with vertical compaction was 12.14 ± 2.57 με, with statistical significance of p < 0.05. CONCLUSION: Vertical obturation of endodontically treated teeth propagates less stress to the abutment teeth and to the supporting prostheses.