A photoelastic study of stress induced by framework design in a maxillary resection.

Support of a framework and obturator in a patient with an acquired maxillary defect is diminished by the removal of a portion of the palate and alveolar bone. The intent of this study was to investigate, by three-dimensional photoelastic analysis, the stress transmission that occurs with four commonly used retentive systems. The individual designs were facial cast circumferential retention with palatal plating, swing-lock design with palatal plating, facial cast circumferential retention and palatal cast circumferential clasp reciprocation, and facial cast circumferential reciprocation with palatal I-bar retention. Stresses were observed and compared on the palate and around the teeth of the four models.