Factors affecting stresses in cortical bone around miniscrew implants: a three-dimensional finite element study

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics and Dental Implantology
• Biomechanical Engineering
• Finite Element Analysis in Medicine

Background:

• Miniscrew implants are crucial for orthodontic anchorage.
• Understanding stress distribution around these implants is vital for predicting stability.
• Finite element analysis (FEA) is a powerful tool for simulating biomechanical responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of various miniscrew implant design and bone-related factors on stress patterns in the surrounding cortical bone.
• To identify key parameters influencing stress concentration and potential failure modes.

Main Methods:

• Developed 26 three-dimensional finite element models of miniscrews in alveolar bone using Abaqus software.
• Varied implant design (diameter, head length, thread characteristics) and bone properties (elastic modulus, thickness).
• Applied a 2 N linear force in the mesial direction and analyzed peak von Mises and principal stress values in the cortical bone.

Main Results:

• Miniscrew implant diameter, implant head length, thread size, and cancellous bone elastic modulus significantly affected cortical bone stresses.
• Cortical bone thickness, thread shape, and thread pitch did not show a significant impact on stress distribution.
• Specific design and material properties correlate with altered stress concentrations.

Conclusions:

• Miniscrew implant diameter, head length, and thread size are critical factors influencing stress in the surrounding cortical bone.
• The elastic modulus of the cancellous bone also plays a significant role in stress distribution.
• These findings suggest that optimizing these parameters can enhance miniscrew implant stability and clinical success.