3D-FEA OF OSSEOINTEGRATION PERCENTAGES AND PATTERNS ON IMPLANT-BONE INTERFACIAL STRESSES

Objectives: The degree of osseointegration and its patterns are import ant for the success of implants. 3D-FEA was used to determine interfac ial stresses on a single tooth implant (IMZ) for four degrees of osseo integration (100, 75, 50 and 25%), and five patterns at 50% osseointeg ration (locally alternating, coronal only, apical only, facial only an d lingual only). Methods: The implant was restored with a metal-cerami c crown and subjected to 10 MPa axial or oblique applied stress. Resol ved stresses were examined at four heights along the implant-bone inte rface. Results: The degree of osseointegration did not affect resolved stress levels or distributions. Oblique loads elevated interfacial st resses 5 to 20 times. Stresses were always higher at the bone crest. C onclusions: Osseointegration patterns with crestal bone reduced both c restal and apical stresses. Apical only osseointegration produced much higher apical stresses. Crestal osseointegration and axial loads mini mized overall stress. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.