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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of cantilever length, load, and implant number on the stress distribution of implant supported fixed prosthesis. In the replica of an edentulous human mandible, four or five implants were placed and spaced evenly between the mental foramina and symmetrical gold alloy cast superstructures with cantilever were fabricated. Strain gauges were placed in buccal and lingual side of implants. 9, 15, 21kg of loads at varying cantilever lengths were applied to the occlusal surface of fixed prostheses. The strains were recorded from each gauge and principal stresses were calculated The results were as follows : 1. Increasing the length of the cantilever increased the stresses on the bone supporting implants, and the ratio of increase became high as increasing the load. 2. In the model with four implants, the highest compressive stress was measured on lingual side of the first implants nearest loading point and the highest tensile stress was measured on buccal side of the second implants. 3. In the model with five implants, the highest compressive stress was measured on lingual side of the first implants nearest loading point. And the highest tensile stress was measured on buccal side of the second implants, and lingual side of the third implants. 4. There was no significant change of the magnitude of stress on the most distal implant of non cantilevered side as increasing the cantilever length or load. 5. In general, the superstructure supported by five implants reduced the stress and was less affected by cantilever length compared to the support provided by four implants.
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