Effect of attachments and palatal coverage of maxillary implant overdenture on stress distribution: a finite element analysis

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of attachments and palatal coverage on stress distribution in maxillary implant overdenture using finite element analysis. @*Materials and Methods@#Four maxillary overdenture 3-D models with four implants placed in the anterior region were fabricated with computer-aided design. 1) Ball-F Non-splinted ball attachment and full palatal coverage, 2) Ball-P Non-splinted ball attachment and U-shaped partial palatal coverage, 3) Bar-F Splinted milled bar attachment and full palatal coverage, 4) Bar-P Splinted milled bar attachment and U-shaped partial palatal coverage. Stress distribution analysis was performed with ANSYS workbench 14. 100 N vertical load was applied at the right first molar unilaterally and maximum stress was calculated at the implant, peri-implant bone and mucosa. @*Results@#The use of the ball attachment showed lower maximum stress on implant and peri-implant bone than the use of the milled bar attachment. But it showed contrary tendency in the mucosa. Regardless of attachment, full palatal coverage showed lower maximum stress on implant, peri-implant bone and mucosa. @*Conclusion@#Within the limitation of this study, ball attachment improved stress distribution on implant and periimplant bone rather than milled bar attachment in maxillary implant overdenture. Also, full palatal coverage is more favorable in stress distribution.