Investigation of the Mechanical Behavior of Mandibular Overdentures Using Finite Element Method

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the overdenture fixed on two mandibular implants anchored on staples, determining the behavior of the prosthesis. It‘s consider this ansamble must operate under of occlusal forces present during various functional activities such as mastication proccess. To analyze the stresses induced by masticatory forces on the anchoring system and mandibular overdenture retention using two implants by type staple system, and its displacement, was built, using the finite element method, a three-dimensional numerical model of a mandibular overdenture with mixed support: implant and mucosa. Geometrical model was developed having as reference a real mandibular complete denture that was 3D scanned previously. These images, which contains three-dimensional size of the prosthesis was imported into a CAD program (Computer Analysis Design) for obtaining geometrical model consisting of lines, surfaces and volumes. The numerical model designed examines various cases of arrangement of total prosthesis implant support in relation to the median axis of the mandible in order to determine the best case form for fixing the prosthesis. Numerical analyzes were performed using Ansys software, a program that uses the finite elements method.