This study examined the effect of a soft denture liner on the
distribution of stresses in the denture-supporting structures.
Dentures without a liner and with three configurations of a soft
liner were simulated by using a two-dimensional viscoelastic
finite-element stress analysis. The stress intensity at functional
force-bearing areas decreased when a soft denture liner was used.
However, the stresses in the bone increased remarkably up to 3.0
seconds after loading. Because of the time-dependent effect of
stresses applied to soft denture liners, denture patients who
clench or brux may not benefit as greatly from soft denture liners.
The study indicates that viscoelastic finite-element analysis is
helpful for evaluating soft denture liners. Soft denture liners
appear to be useful for improving the stress distribution in the
supporting structures under dentures and in turn causing less gum
loss.