Maxillary central incisor implant restoration in relation to the adjacent natural teeth: A biomechanical analysis

This study aimed to analyze biomechanical changes in the adjacent natural teeth and surrounding bone tissues following maxillary central incisor implant restoration to provide theoretical guidance for reducing the incidence of proximal contact loss (PCL) in clinical practice.

A finite element model of the maxillary incisor region with natural dentition (model A) and a mixed dentition finite element model incorporating an implant-supported prosthesis and the adjacent natural teeth (model B) were established. The tooth displacement and strain distribution in the surrounding bone tissues obtained under lateral forces applied at different angles using the two models were compared.

Under the same magnitude and angle of lateral force, the tooth displacement, proximal contact gaps, and equivalent strain differences in model B were greater than those in model A. Moreover, with increasing lateral force angle, the differences in the mesiodistal direction between the two models became more pronounced.

Prosthesis implantation increases the tendency of the adjacent natural teeth to move horizontally away from the implant. This may be one of the reasons for the occurrence of PCL after implant restoration. This experiment also requires validation through long-term clinical studies.