Influence of Abutment Angle on Implant Strain When Supporting a Distal Extension Removable Partial Dental Prosthesis: An In Vitro Study

Purpose: This study evaluated the impact of angled abutments on strain in implants supporting a distal extension removable partial denture. Materials and Methods: An in vitro model of an implant supporting a distal extension removable partial denture was developed. The implant was positioned with a 17- or 30-degree mesial inclination, with either a healing abutment or a corrective multiunit abutment. Levels of strain under load were compared, and the results were compared using t test (P = .05). Results: Correcting angulation with a multiunit angled abutment significantly decreased strain (P .05) when compared with a healing abutment. Conclusion: An angled abutment decreased the strain on an inclined implant significantly more than a healing abutment when loaded under a distal extension removable partial denture.