The purpose of this study was to analyze the magnitude and distribution of stress using a photoelastic model from a unilateral distal extention removable partial dentures with five kinds of the direct retainers, that is, the bilaterally designed bar clasp of the cross-arch lingual bar and the unilaterally designed bar clasp, circumferential clasp, mini-Dalbo attachment, and telescope retainer. A photoelastic model for mandible was made of the epoxy resin(PL-1) and hardner (PLH-1) with the acrylic resin teeth used and was coated with plastic cement-1 at the lingual surface of the model, and then five kinds of removable partial dentures were set, A unilateral vertical load of about 16Kg was applied on the first molar and the stress pattern of the photoelastic model under each condition was analyzed by the reflective circular polariscope. The following results were obtained: 1. The conventional removable partial denture with the bilaterally cross arch lingual bar produced the most favorable stress distribution on the residual ridge and supporting structure of abutment teeth than the unilaterally designed removable partial dentures. 2. The unilaterally designed removable partial denture with the bar clasp produced the stress distribution on the residual ridge, except sligtly higher stress concentration on the supporting structure of the abutment teeth, similar to the conventional removable partial denture with the bilaterally designed cross arch lingual bar. 3. On the unilaterally designed removable partial dentures, the bar clasp produced greater stress distribution on the residual ridge and supporting structure of the abutment teeth than the circumferential clasp. 4. On the unilaterally designed removable partial dentures, the mimi-Dalbo attachment produced relatively higher stress concentration on the residual ridge, but produced lesser stress concentration on the supporting structure of the abutment teeth than the other direct retainers. 5. On the unilaterally designed removable partial dentures, the telescope retainer produced uniform stress distribution on the residual ridge, but produced higher stress concentration at the root apex of the terminal abutment tooth than the other direct retainers. 6. On the unilaterally designed removable partial dentures the circumferential clasp and telescope retainer produced slightly higher stress concentration on the residual ridge and supporting structure of the abutment teeth than the bar clasp and mini- Dalbo attachment.