Finite element analysis of stress-breaking attachments on maxillary implant-retained overdentures.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of stress-breaking attachments at the connections between maxillary palateless overdentures and implants.

Materials And Methods: Three-dimensional finite element models were used to reproduce an edentulous human maxilla with an implant-retained overdenture. Two-implant models (in the canine tooth positions on both sides) and four-implant models (in the canine and second premolar tooth positions on both sides) were examined.