An in vitro comparison of retentive force and deformation of acetal resin and cobalt-chromium clasps.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM The use of metal clasps on anterior teeth may cause esthetic problems. Recently, acetal resins have been used as an alternative tooth-colored denture clasp material to improve esthetics. However, there are few studies to support acetal resin use. PURPOSE The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the retentive force and deformation of acetal resin and cobalt-chromium clasps after 36 months of simulated clinical use. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty clasps each of acetal resin (1.2 or 2.0 mm thick) and cobalt-chromium (Dentorium)(1.2 mm thick) were fabricated using half-round standard prefabricated clasp patterns. The groups were further subdivided (n=10) into the type of tooth (premolar or molar metal model) and undercut (0.25 mm or 0.50 mm). The retentive force of the clasps was measured in distilled water by a specially designed insertion-removal testing apparatus with intervals corresponding to 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months of simulated clinical use of a removable partial denture. The distance between the clasp tips (mm) was measured with a microscope before and after the insertion-removal testing procedure. Comparison of the mean values of the retentive force (gram force) of the clasps and the distance (mm) between the clasp tips was conducted with 3-way analysis of variance and a Least Significant Difference (LSD) multiple range test (alpha=.05). RESULTS The mean values of tensile load required to dislodge acetal resin clasps with 1.2-mm thickness (111.6 g or 0.11 N) and with 2.0-mm thickness (178.4 g or 1.75 N) was significantly lower than that to dislodge Co-Cr clasps (694.1 g or 6.81 N) (P<.001). The retentive force needed to dislodge all 3 types of clasps was significantly lower for the molar than premolar models and also lower for the models with 0.25-mm undercuts than for those with 0.50-mm undercuts (P<.001). After 36 months of simulated clinical use, there was evidence of deformation in the cobalt-chromium clasps but no deformation noted for the acetal resin clasps. The retentive force of cobalt-chromium clasps (297.4 g or 2.91 N) after deformation remained significantly higher (P<.001) than the retentive force of acetal resin clasps that were 1.2 mm (110.7 g or 1.08 N) and 2.0 mm thick (177.5 g or 1.74 N), respectively. CONCLUSION Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest that both thicknesses of acetal resin clasps evaluated required less force for insertion and removal than Co-Cr clasps over a simulated 36-month period.