The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stress distribution developed in supporting structures by distal extension removable partial denture with 4-types of direct retainer. The direct retainers examined were Akers clasp, RPI clasp, RPA clasp and RPL clasp in bilateral & unilateral free end case. 3-dimensional photoelastic stress analysis was used to record the isochromatic fringe patterns and to calculate the compressive stress at measuring points. The results were as follows. 1. In bilateral free end case, RPI clasp exhibited the similar stress distribution on distal and mesial alveolar crest but Akers clasp exhibited higher stress concentration on distal alveolar crest than mesial alveolar crest. 2. In bilateral free end case, RPA clasp and RPL clasp exhibited the similar stress distribution on distal and mesial alveolar crest and RPL clasp exhibited higher stress concentration on buccal alveolar crest than lingual alveolar crest. 3. Akers clasp produced high stress concentration on residual alveolar ridge distally, but RPI clasp, RPA clasp and RPL clasp produced even stress distribution on residual alveolar ridge. 4. Removable partial denture in unilateral free end case exerted higher stress on abutment tooth root apex than bilateral distal extension removable partial denture.