Modeling of Dental Implant Osseointegration Progress by Three-Dimensional Finite Element Method

Abstract

As osseointegration is a time-dependent process, biomechanical assessment is thought to determine whether a fibrous encapsulation or a bone covering will develop around an implant, according to the stress in the implant and surrounding bone. This study proposes a model for stress evaluation by finite element method (FEM) during the osseointegration progress, the main factor implied in implant success or failure. The loadings due to masticatory forces generate stress concentration and consequently, an adequate risk concerning the implant stability should be assessed. An accurate FEM model is used to calculate the stress and displacement in the whole implant–bone system during the osseointegration progress. This process is simulated by taking into account the gradual increase in the damaged biomechanical properties of the cortical bone. The results reveal that as the implant osseointegration occurs gradually, the bone stiffness from the peri-implant area increases gradually, such that in the end (healing) we observed that the cortical bone begins to take over the bending loading. In addition, the displacements decrease as the osseointegration gradually occurs and the cortical bone stress reaches higher values, which are placed in the mandibular ridge. The FEM is suitable to model the osseointegration progress, offering valuable information concerning the stress concentration zones in the implant–bone system and consequently, the risk evaluation, both for pre- and post-osseointegration.