Stress Breakers

Definition Accoding to Glossary of Prosthodontic Terms - A device which relieves the abutment teeth of all or part of occlusal forces .

- Also known as stress equalizers/stress directors - Dentures with a stress breaker are called as broken stress partial dentures or articulated prostheses. Need /function of stress breakers When occlusal load is applied on a toth tissue supported partial denture ,the denture tends to rock due to difference in the compressibility of the

abutment teeth and soft tissues,as a result the stress acting on abutment are increased. -In order to protect the abutment from such conditions ,stress breakers are incorporated into denture . It acts like a hinge joint placed within the denture framework.

ClassificationThere are two types of stress breakers

1.Type 1
-here a movable joint is placed between direct retainer and denture base(hinge,ball and socket,sleeve etc) -this allows the denture base to move independently -this decreases the amount of force acting on the abutment. -the combined resilience of the periodontal ligament and the stress director will be equal to the resilience of the oral mucosa overlying the ridge.

2.Type 2
-It has a flexible connection between the direct retainer and the denture base -It can be wrought wire connector divided or split major connector or a movable joint between two major connector.

Advantage -The alveolar support of the abutment teeth is preserved as the stress acting on the abutment teeth are reduced -The stress on the residual ridge and abutment teeth are balanced -Weak abutment teeth are well splinted even during the movement of denture base -Frequent need for relining and rebasing is avoided.

Disadvantage-Design becomes complicated and expensive. The assembly is often very weak and tends to fracture easily. -There may be collection of food debris at the area of splint.

Physiologic Basing
-This technique distributes the occlusal load between the abutment teeth and the soft tissues by fabricating denture base on functional record. -Functional record is obtained by recording the tissues under occlusal load or by relining the denture under functional stress -Therefore the soft tissues offer much more resistance to further compression. Requirement for physiologic basing-a rigid metal framework -functional occlusal rests -indirect retainer to provide additional stability -well adapted ,broad coverage denture base

Advantage -good adaptation of the denture base -simple design and economical -minimal direct retention decreases the functional stress on the abutment teeth Disadvantage-Decrease in the number of retentive components provides less stability -The denture tends to left at rest ,this leads to premature contacts.

Broad stress distribution According to this philosophy of design the occlusal load acting on the denture should be distributed over a wider soft tissue area and maximum number of teeth. This is achieved by a)increasing the number of direct retainer ,indirect retainer b)increasing rests c)increasing the area of denture base Advantage-it increases the healthof the abutment teeth (due to splinting action ) -easy to construct economical Disadvantage-Less comfortable -Difficult to maintain adequate oral hygiene