Finite element analysis of non-ultraviolet and ultraviolet-irradiated titanium implants

The purpose of this study is to calculate von Mises stresses, von Mises strains, deformation, principal stresses and principal elastic strains of non-UV and UV-irradiated hybrid SLA (sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched)-coated titanium implants.

A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the Institute of Dentistry, CMH Lahore Medical College. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data of One Hundred and Thirty Eight Dio Hybrid sandblasted and acid-etched implants of identical dimensions (10 mm in length and 4.5 mm in diameter) were allocated in the three groups. Control group A samples were not given UV irradiation, while groups B and C were given UVA (382 nm, 25 mWcm^-2) and UVC (260 nm, 15 mWcm^-2) irradiation, respectively. The CBCT data were analyzed using FEA (ANSYS software). CBCT images were taken before functional loading (8^th week) and after functional loading (26^th week). A 3-way ANOVA test was employed to see the difference between the three groups. Tukey test was utilized for multiple comparisons. p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.

The control group exhibited the highest average values for maximum von Mises stress, von Mises strain, deformation, principal stress, and principal elastic strain in both the maxilla and mandible compared to the UV-irradiated groups. Additionally, these measures consistently displayed higher averages in the maxilla across all groups compared to the mandible. Particularly, the UVC-irradiated group demonstrated the lowest von Mises stresses around the implants compared to the UVA group.

Insignificant differences were observed between UVA- and UVC-irradiated implants in terms of principal stress, deformation, von Mises strain, and principal elastic strain. The only notable distinction was in von Mises stress, where the UVC-irradiated group exhibited lower von Mises stress around SLA-coated titanium implants.