Finite Element Analysis of Dental Implants with and without Microthreads under Static and Dynamic Loading

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess stress and strain patterns in cortical and cancellous bones surrounding newly designed dental implants with different thread patterns. Static loading of dental implants has been well studied, but studies on dynamic loading and fatigue analysis of dental implants are scarce. This study analyzed the static, dynamic, and fatigue behaviors of dental implants using finite element analysis (FEA). Two models of dental implants were analyzed in this study. Model A was a tapered implant with V-shaped threads and model B was a tapered implant with microthreads in the uppermost region and V-shaped threads in the rest of the body. Two types of loading conditions were simulated in an FEA model and stress and strain patterns in the surrounding bone were analyzed. Dynamic loading increased the level of stress by 5-10% compared with static loading. Both implants showed acceptable results under static and dynamic loadings, but the second implant with microthreads caused lower stress and strain in cortical and cancellous bones. Dynamic and fatigue analyses can provide a more realistic understanding of the function of dental implants. Replacing the uppermost threads with microthreads can lead to more desirable stress patterns in bone, as well as a higher safety factor and longevity.