Purpose To investigate the significance of the connector type on stress dissemination within the tooth‐implant‐supported fixed dental prostheses in the mandibular posterior region with different combinations of implant diameter and length by means of finite element analysis (FEA). Materials and Methods Six models of different designs for tooth‐implant fixed dental prosthesis (FDPs) were simulated and divided into two main groups. Implant lengths were 10, 11.5, and 13 mm while implant diameters were 3.7, 4.7, and 5.7 mm. The main difference between the groups was the connector type. Models were evaluated using 3D FEA (Solidworks Premium 2018 × 64 Edition). Group A tooth‐implant FDPs (5.7 mm × 10 mm) had a mesial and distal rigid connector while group B tooth‐implant FDPs (3.7 mm × 10 mm, 3.7 mm × 11.5 mm, 3.7 mm × 13 mm, 4.7 mm × 10 mm and 5.7 mm × 10 mm) had a mesial non‐rigid connector in their design between the pontic and the tooth. Models were analyzed to determine the magnitude of von Misses Stresses at six specific zones (fixed dental prosthesis, bone around distal implant, bone around tooth, cementum, periodontal ligament, implant) under vertical occlusal loading of 100 N after meshing and assigning the material properties. Results Stress values around the supporting bone were significantly higher in Group B (tooth‐implant FDP with non‐rigid connection) when compared to Group A (tooth‐implant FDP with rigid connection). Also, the stresses measured at the FDP level showed that the rigid connection group (5.7 mm × 10 mm) exhibited 26% lower stress values when compared to the non‐rigid group (5.7 mm × 10 mm). Conclusions Implant‐tooth FDPs with rigid connector design using the combination of implant diameter and length (5.7 mm × 10 mm) demonstrated a better design modality thus predicting a higher success rate and more longevity than using the non‐rigid connection option.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to analyze the stress distribution of fiber‐reinforced composite provisional fixed partial denture utilizing a finite element analysis model.Material and methodsThree anterior teeth were collected: upper right central, left central, and right lateral incisors. A fiber‐reinforced composite strip was applied to the palatal surfaces of the teeth. Micro‐computed tomographic scans were acquired of the models in order to generate three‐dimensional geometrical replicas. Finite element analysis was used to assess the stress distribution of fiber‐reinforced composite provisional fixed partial denture using different pontic types under static applied forces that were 100, 30, and 0 N.ResultsThe maximum stress values were found on the unprepared natural pontic. Stress values ranged from 92.2 to 909.8, 116.4 to 646.7, and 93.8 to 393.5 MPa for composite, naturally prepared, and natural unprepared pontic, respectively.ConclusionsUsing unprepared natural tooth pontic in anterior provisional fixed partial denture to replace missing central incisors is considered superior to other types in terms of stress distribution.