Numerical Evaluation of Biomechanical Stresses in Dental Bridges Supported by Dental Implants

Abstract

The number of supporting dental implants is an important criterion for the surgical outcome of dental bridge fixation, which has considerable impact on biomechanical load transfer characteristics. Excessive stress at the bone–implant interface by masticatory loading may result in implant failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the number of implants supporting the dental bridge on stress in neighboring tissues around the implants. Results of the study will provide useful information on appropriate surgical techniques for dental bridge fixation. In this study, osseointegrated smooth cylindrical dental implants of same diameter and length were numerically analyzed, using three-dimensional bone–implant models. The effect of the number of supporting implants on biomechanical stability of dental bridge was examined, using two, three and four supporting implants. All materials were assumed to be linearly elastic and isotropic. Masticatory load was applied in coron-apical direction on the external part of dental bridge. Finite Element (FE) analyses were run to solve for von Mises stress. Maximum von Mises stresses were located in the cervical line of cortical bone around dental implants. Peak von Mises stress values decreased with an increase in the number of implants that support the dental bridge. Results of this study demonstrate the importance of using the correct number of supporting implants to for dental bridge fixation.