1. Three-dimensional finite element analysis of two angled narrow-diameter implant designs for an all-on-4 prosthesis
- Author
-
Edmundo José Moreira de Melo and Carlos Eduardo Francischone
- Subjects
Dental Implants ,Dental Stress Analysis ,Orthodontics ,Materials science ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Finite Element Analysis ,Dental prosthesis ,030206 dentistry ,Prosthesis ,Osseointegration ,Finite element method ,Biomechanical Phenomena ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Dental Prosthesis Design ,All-on-4 ,Maxilla ,medicine ,von Mises yield criterion ,Computer Simulation ,Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported ,Stress, Mechanical ,Implant ,Oral Surgery - Abstract
Statement of problem Although the concept of angulated dental implants has been used for the rehabilitation of the completely edentulous maxilla, its use has yet to be validated with narrow-diameter implants. Proper estimation of narrow-diameter implant dimensions and angulations is essential for the correct use of these implants. Purpose The purpose of this 3D finite element analysis study was to compare the stress levels and distributions of 2 narrow-diameter angled implant arrangements supporting a maxillary fixed complete prosthesis. Material and methods Two commercially available narrow-diameter implants (3.5×11.5 mm, Unitite Prime; 2.9×11.5 mm, Unitite Slim) were compared for their performances under axial and oblique loading (masticatory force: 100 N) in simulated situations of all-on-4 treatment (2 parallel anterior implants perpendicular to the bone crest and 2 posterior implants angled at 30 degrees). An edentulous maxilla model generated from computed tomography and a prosthesis parametric computer-aided design (CAD) model were combined with computational models of implants and prosthetic components to represent implant-supported maxillary fixed complete prostheses. A condition of complete osseointegration was assumed. Peri-implant bone was analyzed by the Mohr-Coulomb criterion. Implants, abutments, and screws were analyzed by the von Mises criterion, and frameworks by the Rankine criterion. Results The 3.5-mm model showed higher axial load values for peri-implant bone, implants, and abutments than the 2.9-mm model. As for oblique load, values were higher for right-sided peri-implant bone, implants, abutments, and frameworks in the 3.5-mm model than in the 2.9-mm model. The 3.5-mm model had a 16% lower risk of peri-implant bone loss for the axial load and 4% for the oblique load. Conclusions The biomechanical behavior of an angled 2.9-mm implant was comparable with that of a 3.5-mm implant for an all-on-4 prosthesis. However, despite a lower risk of peri-implant bone loss, the 3.5-mm model had higher peak stress on implants and abutments than the 2.9-mm model.
- Published
- 2020