HOMOGENIZED STRESS-ANALYSIS IN A DENTAL IMPLANT SYSTEM

In this study, the stress state occurring at each trabeculae due to th ree different types of dental implant is investigated by a homogenizat ion technique, in which the trabecular structure is assumed to be comp osed of repeating hexagonal units. This technique helps make a proper material model of bone and to analyse such a non-homogeneous structure at the level of an individual microstructural unit. Stress analyses w ith the homogenization technique show a much higher stress level in th e sponge bone, compared to those with conventional FEM. It also shows that even a minor lateral force results in crucial stresses in the den tal implant system. The stress states of the mandible with a hemispher e-rooted implant and a wedge type implant show similar levels, while t hose with a rectangular-rooted implant result in higher stresses. It i s suggested that the distance between the implant tip and cortical bon e be kept far enough apart to prevent stress concentrations in the man dible.