Abstract
Aim: This review aimed to investigate the stress that arises in the conventional and implant-assisted removable complete dental prostheses (RCDPs) and supporting structures. Materials and Methods: A literature survey was conducted for the full-text English articles which only used finite element analysis to examine the stress developed in the conventional and implant-assisted RCDPs from January 2000 to May 2020. Results: In total, 1789 articles were included in the survey. Of the 1789 articles obtained, 1746 were excluded based on initial screening of the title and abstract. Finally, 24 articles were recruited for this study after excluding the duplicated articles with the same results. The significant findings and conclusions were extracted and grouped under biomechanical stress developed in complete dental prostheses, how to manage the stress developed in conventional RCDPs, and the factors affecting the development of stress in implant-assisted RCDPs. Conclusion: The RCDPs subject to different kinds of stress in the form of compressive and tensile strengths. The buccal flanges exhibit compressive strains responding to the vertical forces while labial flanges show the same type of strain responding to all force directions. The highest tensile strain concentration exists at the anterior frenum, midline, and buccal flanges when the forces were horizontal. Whilst, retention and support in implant-assisted prostheses are exceptionally improved, the implants and prostheses are subjected to stress which may result in failure of these kinds of prosthesis. This stress can be managed by increasing the number and size and by decreasing the angulation of the implants, using splinted or short collar unsplinted abutments, reinforcing the denture base, and using canine guidance occlusion.