Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Jul-Sep;11(3):438-441.
doi: 10.1016/j.jobcr.2021.05.007. Epub 2021 May 15.

Mechanical analysis of prosthetic bars and dental implants in 3 and 4 implant-supported overdenture protocols using finite element analysis

Luiz Bassi-Junior  1 , Rafael Oliveira de Souza Silva  1 , Victor Hugo Dias Dos Santos  2 , Abner da Rocha Lourenço  2 , Paulo Vinicius Trevizoli  2 , Hugo Gaêta-Araujo  3 , Polyane Mazucatto Queiroz  1 , Vilmar Divanir Gottardo  1
Affiliations

Mechanical analysis of prosthetic bars and dental implants in 3 and 4 implant-supported overdenture protocols using finite element analysis

Luiz Bassi-Junior et al. J Oral Biol Craniofac Res. 2021 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

In some clinical situations, the installation of four or more dental implants may be infeasible. Therefore, the installation of protocol-type prostheses with only three implants may be necessary. The mechanical failures can hinder the success of the rehabilitation treatment.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the mechanical stress of the metallic prosthetic bar when installed over protocol-type prostheses of three and four implants, and to evaluate the stress on the dental implants.

Methodology: Two three-dimensional human jaw models were created. In one model, four dental implants (P4) were designed and in the other model three dental implants (P3) were designed. In both models, according to the arrangement of the dental implants, prosthetic bars were designed. In a finite element analysis software, compressive forces were applied to the ends of both prosthetic bars, simulating the force application during mastication. Tension and stress dissipation were analyzed on the prosthetic bar and dental implants.

Results: Both P4 and P3 protocol-type prostheses supported the force efficiently without breaking the bar or the implants. Force dissipation along the bar was more homogeneous in the P3 prosthetic bar than in P4. In addition, P3 implants received a higher concentration of stress in relation to P4 implants.

Conclusions: Prosthetic bars and dental implants withstand the stress of load application in both four and three implant protocol-type prostheses. Three-implants protocol showed more satisfactory force dissipation than the four-implant protocol.

Keywords: Computer-assisted; Dental implants. dental prosthesis. finite element analysis. mandible. Numerical analysis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Three-dimensional (A) P4 and (B) P3 models designed in the software.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Areas of force application in (A) P4 and (B) P3.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Graphical representation of force dissipation in (A) P4 and (B) P3.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Cuts of dental implant graphics to assess stress dissipation in P4 and P3 dental implants. Implants (A) 1, (B) 2, (C) 3 and (D) 4 in P4 and Implants (E) 1, (F) 2 and 3 (G) in P3.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Branemark P.I., Hansson B.O., Adell R. Osseointegrated implants in the treatment of the edentulous jaw: experience from a 10-year period. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Suppl. 1977;16:1–132. - PubMed
    1. Ekelund J.A., Lindquist L.W., Carlsson G.E., Jemt T. Implant treatment in the edentulous mandible: a prospective study on Brånemark system implants over more than 20 years. Int J Prosthodont. 2003;16:602–608.4. - PubMed
    1. Attard N.J., Zarb G.A. Long-term treatment outcomes in edentulous patients with implant-fixed prostheses: the Toronto study. Int J Prosthodont. 2004;17:417–424. - PubMed
    1. Goodacre C.J., Bernal G., Rungcharassaeng K., Kan J.Y. Clinical complications with implants and implant prostheses. J Prosthet Dent. 2003;90:21–32. - PubMed
    1. Wiskott H.W.A., Jaquet R., Scherrer S.S., Belser U.C. Resistence of internal-connection implant connectors under rotational fadigue loading. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 2007;22:249–257. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources