Short Communication: Fracture Resistance of Acrylic Resin and Metal-Reinforced Acrylic Resin Distal Extension Cantilevers of Fixed Implant-Supported Prostheses

The fracture resistance of acrylic resin and metal-reinforced acrylic resin fixed implant-supported prosthesis cantilever arms to linear vertical compressive forces was determined. Ten superstructures of each type were secured on 5 evenly distributed implants. Force was applied to the cantilever arms 15 mm distal to the distal-most implant, and 2 tests were conducted on each sample. In each sample, fracture of the acrylic resin was noted at the distal-most implant; however, in the nonreinforced samples, the acrylic resin fractured off completely, leaving the implants unaffected. There was no significant difference between the mean fracture value of the nonreinforced samples (679 N) and reinforced samples (628 N).