Clinical measurement of force exerted on anterior teeth in partial edentulous distal extension.

Purpose: The aim of this clinical study was to determine the influence of partial edentulous distal extension and the use of removable partial dental prostheses in partially edentulous areas on the force exerted on the anterior teeth.

Materials and methods: Eighty-three volunteer patients participated in this study. The occlusal force was measured by using an occlusal force measuring sheet in the patient's mouth. The occlusal forces and ratios were compared with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p < 0.05).

Results: The force exerted on the anterior teeth increased significantly as the number of remaining teeth decreased in an edentulous distal extension. The force exerted on the anterior teeth decreased significantly with the use of a removable partial dental prosthesis.

Conclusion: When the number of remaining teeth decreases in a partial edentulous distal extension, the burden on the anterior teeth increases in a clinical setting. Our findings suggest that, for patients with partial edentulous distal extension, using a removable partial dental prosthesis is effective in preserving the residual anterior teeth by reducing excessive force. Int J Prosthodont 2023. doi: 10.11607/ijp.8281.