Mechanical response at peri-implant mandibular bone for variation of pore characteristics of implants: A Finite...

In this paper, the mechanical response of generic dental implants having calculated porosities with varying pore-sizes has been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to compare the developed stress-strain of designed porous implants (i.e., stress at the implant and strain at the peri-implant bone) with that of the non-porous implant.

3D model of a mandible was prepared from CT scan data and nine generic dental implant models have been designed having 10%, 20%, and 30% porosity with 500, 700, and 900 micron pore size along with a non-porous model for carrying out FE analyses. First, failure analyses of implants, under a biting force of 250 N have been performed. Next, the remaining implants have been further evaluated under average compressive chewing load of 100 N, for mechanical responses at bone-implant interface.

Von Mises strain at the peri-implant mandibular bone increases with the increase in percentage porosity of the implant material and maximum implant stress remained much below the yield stress level.

Implant stiffness and compressive strength vary as a function of porosity and pore size. Strain obtained on the peri-implant bone is sufficient enough to facilitate better bone growth with the 700 micron pore size and 30% porosity, thus reducing the effect of stress shielding.