STRESS-ANALYSIS OF ENDOSSEOUS IMPLANTS USING THE BOUNDARY INTEGRAL-EQUATION (BIE) METHOD

The Boundary Integral Equation (BIE) method for modelling mathematical ly an endosseous implant within its bony surroundings is described in this study. The results are compared to those calculated by Finite Ele ment Analysis (FEA), and the following conclusions drawn: both FEA and BIE are able to provide stress analyses of the dental implant situati on and give similar numerical values of stresses and strains at the im plant-bone interfaces. The BIE method does not produce a pictorial rep resentation of the calculated stresses in the form of stress contours, as this is not applicable to boundary investigations. It is easier to alter the outline of the implant with line elements than with solid e lements; therefore slight alterations in the outline form of an implan t are easy to investigate with regard to their resultant interfacial s tress levels. The BIE method is simpler to use than FEA, but little so ftware is commercially available. The aim of the study was to determin e whether future developments in this field could be useful in the str ess analysis of endosseous implants.