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Three-dimensional stress analysis of tooth/lmplant-retained long-span fixed dentures
Nariyuki Maezawa1, Makoto Shiota, Shohei Kasugai
1Oral Implantology and Regenerative Dental Medicine, Department of Masticatory Function Rehabilitation, Division of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. maezawa.impl@tmd.ac.jp
Purpose:
The aim was to assess the influence of connection of the canine teeth to implant-retained long-span fixed dentures on stress in mandibular bone using finite element analysis.
Materials And Methods:
Each 3-dimensional model included bone, 6 implants, both natural canines, and superstructures. Each model simulated 1 of 4 prosthetic designs: a tooth/implant-retained 1-piece superstructure (One-piece), 3-piece superstructures with an anterior and 2 posterior segments with unconnected teeth (UnConnect), 3-piece superstructures with the teeth connected to the posterior segments (PostConnect), and 3-piece superstructures with the teeth connected to the anterior segment (AntConnect). A nonlinear elastic modulus was applied to the periodontal ligament (PDL). Maximum intercuspal (IP), canine-protected (CP), and group-function (GF) occlusions were simulated.
Results:
The maximum stresses in the peri-implant regions of the bone were lower for the One-piece than for the other superstructures. In PostConnect and AntConnect, the maximum stress in the PDL was lower than that in UnConnect, but the stress in the peri-implant bone was comparable in those 3 models. The stresses were lower in the GF model than in the CP model. The stress created in the peri-implant bone was insensitive to the modes of the teeth/implant connection in long-span fixed dentures.
Conclusion:
Within the limitation of the mechanical analysis, it is suggested that the connection of the canine tooth to the implant-retained long-span superstructures is an acceptable option in partially edentulous patients.
