Different treatment modalities using dental implants in the posterior maxilla: a finite element analysis

Abstract The objective of this study was to compare the biomechanical behavior of peri-implant bone tissue and prosthetic components in two modalities of treatment for posterior region of the maxilla, using short implants or standard-length implants associated with bone graft in the maxillary sinus. Four 3D models of a crown supported by an implant fixed in the posterior maxilla were constructed. The type of implant: short implant (S) or standard-length implant with the presence of sinus graft (L) and type of crown retention: cemented (C) or screwed (S) were the study factors. The models were divided into SC- cemented crown on a short implant; SS- screwed crown on the short implant; LC- cemented crown on a standard-length implant after bone graft in the maxillary sinus and LS- crown screwed on a standard-length implant after bone graft in the maxillary sinus. An axial occlusal loading of 300 N was applied, divided into five points (60N each) corresponding to occlusal contact. The following analysis criteria were observed: Shear Stress, Maximum and Minimum Main Stress for bone tissue and von Mises Stress for the implant and prosthetic components. The use of standard-length implants reduced the shear stress in the cortical bone by 35.75% and the medullary bone by 51% when compared to short implants. The length of the implant did not affect the stress concentration in the crown, and the cement layer acted by reducing the stresses in the ceramic veneer and framework by 42%. Standard-implants associated with cemented crowns showed better biomechanical behavior.

Resumo O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o comportamento biomecânico do tecido ósseo peri-implantar e dos componentes protéticos em duas modalidades de tratamento para região posterior da maxila, utilizando implantes curtos ou implantes de comprimento padrão associados a enxerto ósseo em seio maxilar. Foram construídos quatro modelos 3D de uma coroa suportada por um implante osseointegrado na região posterior da maxila. O tipo de implante: implante curto (S) ou implante de comprimento padrão com presença de enxerto sinusal (L) e tipo de retenção da restauração: cimentada (C) ou parafusada (S) foram os fatores de estudo. Foi aplicada uma força oclusal de 300N, dividida em cinco pontos (60 N cada) correspondentes ao contato oclusal de um primeiro molar superior. Foram observados os seguintes critérios de análise: tensão de cisalhamento, tensão principal máxima e mínima para o tecido ósseo e tensão de Von Mises para o implante e componentes protéticos. O uso de implantes de comprimento padrão reduziu a tensão de cisalhamento no osso cortical em 35,75% e no osso medular em 51% quando comparado aos implantes curtos. O comprimento do implante não afetou a concentração de tensão na restauração. A camada de cimento atuou reduzindo as tensões na cerâmica de cobertura e infraestrutura de cerâmica em 42%. Os implantes de tamanho padrão associados às coroas cimentadas apresentaram o melhor comportamento biomecânico.

3D finite element model based on CT images of tooth: a simplified method of modeling

Aim: This study aimed the description of a protocol to acquire a 3D finite element (FE) model of a human maxillary central incisor tooth restored with ceramic crowns with enhanced geometric detail through an easy-to-use and low-cost concept and validate it through finite element analysis (FEA). Methods: A human maxillary central incisor was digitalized using a Cone Beam Computer Tomography (CBCT) scanner. The resulted tooth CBCT DICOM files were imported into a free medical imaging software (Invesalius) for 3D surface/geometric reconstruction in stereolithographic file format (STL). The STL file was exported to a computer-aided-design (CAD) software (SolidWorks), converted into a 3D solid model and edited to simulate different materials for full crown restorations. The obtained model was exported into a FEA software to evaluate the influence of different core materials (zirconia - Zr, lithium disilicate - Ds or palladium/silver - Ps) on the mechanical behavior of the restorations under a 100 N applied to the palatal surface at 135 degrees to the long axis of the tooth, followed by a load of 25.5 N perpendicular to the incisal edge of the crown. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of maximum principal stress (ceramic veneer) and maximum principal strain (core) were obtained. Results: The Zr model presented lower stress and strain concentration in the ceramic veneer and core than Ds and Ps models. For all models, the stresses were concentrated in the external surface of the veneering ceramic and strains in the internal surface of core, both near to the loading area. Conclusion: The described procedure is a quick, inexpensive and feasible protocol to obtain a highly detailed 3D FE model, and thus could be considered for future 3D FE analysis. The results of numerical simulation confirm that stiffer core materials result in a reduced stress concentration in ceramic veneer