Three-dimensional finite element analysis of the biomechanical behaviour of different dental implants under immediate loading during three masticatory cycles

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of varying modulus of elasticity (MOE) values of dental implants on the deformation and von Mises stress distribution in implant systems and peri-implant bone tissues under dynamic cyclic loading. The implant-bone interface was characterised as frictional contact, and the initial stress was induced using the interference fit method to effectively develop a finite element model for an immediately loaded implant-supported denture. Using the Ansys Workbench 2021 R2 software, an analysis was conducted to examine the deformation and von Mises stress experienced by the implant-supported dentures, peri-implant bone tissue, and implants under dynamic loading across three simulated masticatory cycles. These findings were subsequently evaluated through a comparative analysis. The suprastructures showed varying degrees of maximum deformation across zirconia (Zr), titanium (Ti), low-MOE-Ti, and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implant systems, registering values of 103.1 μm, 125.68 μm, 169.52 μm, and 844.06 μm, respectively. The Zr implant system demonstrated the lowest values for both maximum deformation and von Mises stress (14.96 μm, 86.71 MPa) in cortical bone. As the MOE increased, the maximum deformation in cancellous bone decreased. The PEEK implant system exhibited the highest maximum von Mises stress (59.12 MPa), whereas the Ti implant system exhibited the lowest stress (22.48 MPa). Elevating the MOE resulted in reductions in both maximum deformation and maximum von Mises stress experienced by the implant. Based on this research, adjusting the MOE of the implant emerged as a viable approach to effectively modify the biomechanical characteristics of the implant system. The Zr implant system demonstrated the least maximum von Mises stress and deformation, presenting a more favourable quality for preserving the stability of the implant-bone interface under immediate loading.

Keywords: Deformation; Dental implant; Modulus of elasticity; Von Mises stress; Zirconia.

Fig. 1

The finite element models of the mandibular tissue and components of an implant-supported denture (a Cortical bone model of mandibular segment; b Cancellous bone model of mandibular segment; c Dental implant model; d Abutment model; e Central screw model; f Suprastructure of the implant-supported denture).

Fig. 2

Morphology of the prepared implant socket.

Fig. 3

The meshed implant-supported denture-mandible bone tissue finite element model.

Fig. 4

Nine occlusion areas with an approximate diameter of 1 mm, representing the force application region of the finite element analysis (FEA).

Fig. 5

The applied forces and the simulation time on the implant system during the simulated masticatory cycle.

Fig. 6

The boundary constraint conditions in implant-supported denture-mandible bone tissue finite element model (a bottom surface constraint; b mesial surface constraint; c distal surface constraint).

Fig. 7

The maximum deformation and maximum von Mises stress distribution of implant-supported dentures after three masticatory cycles (a Deformation of the zirconia [Zr] implant system; b Deformation of the titanium [Ti] implant system; c Deformation of the low-modulus of elasticity (MOE)-Ti implant system; d Deformation of the polyetheretherketone [PEEK] implant system; e Von Mises stress distribution of the Zr implant system; f Von Mises stress distribution of the Ti implant system; g Von Mises stress distribution of the low-MOE-Ti implant system; h Von Mises stress distribution of the PEEK implant system).

Fig. 8

Changes in the maximum deformation and maximum von Mises stress distribution of implant-supported dentures (a Changes in the maximum deformation; b Changes in the von Mises stress distribution).

Fig. 9

Changes in the maximum deformation and maximum von Mises stress distribution of peri-implant bone tissues (a Changes in the maximum deformation in the cortical bone; b Changes in the maximum von Mises stress in the cortical bone; c Changes in the maximum deformation in the cancellous bone; d Changes in the maximum von Mises stress in the cancellous bone).

Fig. 10

The maximum deformation and maximum von Mises stress distribution in the cortical bone surrounding the implants after three masticatory cycles (Maximum deformation:a Zirconia [Zr] implant system; b Titanium [Ti] implant system; c Low-modulus of elasticity (MOE)-Ti implant system; d Polyetheretherketone [PEEK] implant system; Maximum von Mises stress distribution: e The Zr implant system; f The Ti implant system; g The low-MOE-Ti implant system; h The PEEK implant system).

Fig. 11

The maximum deformation and maximum von Mises stress distribution in the cancellous bone surrounding implants after three masticatory cycles (Maximum deformation: a Zirconia [Zr] implant system; b Titanium [Ti] implant system; c Low-modulus of elasticity (MOE)-Ti implant system; d Polyetheretherketone [PEEK] implant system; Maximum von Mises stress distribution: e The Zr implant system; f The Ti implant system; g The low-MOE-Ti implant system; h The PEEK implant system).

Fig. 12

Changes in the maximum deformation and maximum von Mises stress distribution of implants with different modulus of elasticity values in the three simulated masticatory cycles (a Changes in the maximum deformation of implants; b Changes in the maximum von Mises stress of implants).

Fig. 13

The maximum deformation and maximum von Mises stress distribution of implants with different modulus of elasticity (MOE) values after three masticatory cycles (Maximum deformation: a Zirconia [Zr] implants; b Titanium [Ti] implants; c Low-MOE-Ti implants; d Polyetheretherketone [PEEK] implants; Maximum von Mises stress distribution: e The Zr implants; f The Ti implants; g The low-MOE-Ti implants; h The PEEK implants).

Fig. 14

The directional maximum deformation of implants with different modulus of elasticity values in the three simulated masticatory cycles (a Directional maximum deformation on the X-axis; Directional maximum deformation on the Y-axis; Directional maximum deformation on the Z-axis).