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Published on: October 18, 2021
Three-dimensional microdisplacement of teeth adjacent to dental implants: A pilot study
Cleber Davi Del Rei Daltro Rosa1, João Mateus Cavalaro Sayeg2, Victor Augusto Alves Bento3
1PhD Candidate, Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, Araçatuba School of Dentistry, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil; and Visiting Scholar, Division of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Natural teeth show adaptive 3D displacement, unlike rigid dental implants. This pilot study quantified these differences, revealing asymmetric kinematics in tooth-implant complexes over 18 months.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Dental Biomechanics
- Clinical Dentistry
Background:
- Natural teeth exhibit viscoelastic, nonlinear 3D displacement, contrasting with rigid, minimally mobile osseointegrated implants.
- This biomechanical incompatibility can lead to asymmetric force distribution and affect proximal contact stability in tooth-implant complexes.
- Previous clinical studies have not simultaneously quantified 3D kinematics of teeth adjacent to single implants and the implant-supported crown under functional loading.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the 3D displacement patterns of anterior and posterior teeth adjacent to single posterior implants.
- To compare the displacement of natural teeth and implant-supported crowns over an 18-month period.
- To investigate the temporal and structural differences in displacement within tooth-implant complexes.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving 18 patients with 23 posterior single dental implants.
- Serial intraoral scans were acquired at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months.
- 3D displacement was quantified along buccolingual, coronoapical, and mesiodistal axes, with statistical analysis using 2-factor repeated-measures ANOVA.
Main Results:
- Natural teeth demonstrated significantly greater 3D microdisplacement than implant-supported crowns, mainly along buccolingual and mesiodistal axes.
- Buccolingual displacement varied significantly over time, showing a reduction from 6 to 12 months and partial recovery at 18 months.
- Mesiodistal displacement was structure-dependent, with anterior teeth showing greater movement than implant-supported crowns and posterior teeth; coronoapical displacement remained minimal and stable.
Conclusions:
- Natural teeth exhibit adaptive 3D displacement under functional loading.
- Implant-supported crowns show minimal positional variation, indicating asymmetric kinematics within tooth-implant complexes.
- Understanding these kinematic differences is crucial for optimizing functional adaptation and stability in dental restorations.