An analysis of stresses in a dental implant system

Abstract

Successful replacement for missing teeth is one of the most complex problems facing the dental profession. Although many different types of dental implants are now available, their performance in restoring masticatory function is still limited and the subject of much controversy. Finite element stress analysis (FESA) has been used in the evaluation of existing dental implant design and offers the potential of evaluating and improving implant design without the risk and expense of implantation. A 2-dimensional FESA was performed to study the effects that methods for trabecular bone representation and surgical positioning of the implant have on stresses around LTI carbon and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) dental implants. [A 2-dimensional finite element model (FEM) was constructed to represent the anatomical geometry of a buccal-lingual section through a baboon mandible hosting a blade type dental implant.] Modeling of individual cancellous bone trabeculae and modeling cancellous bone as a homogeneous material resulted in similar stress distributions; however, significant differences in stress magnitudes were observed. Placement of the implant strongly influenced the state of stress in tissues surrounding it.