Introduction: The aim of the work is to analyze stress distribution on 3D Finite Element (FE) models at bone, implant, and framework level of different designs for fixed implant-supported prostheses in completely edentulous patients, comparing results on whole and partially resected mandibles.
Materials and methods: 3D anisotropic FE models of a whole and of a partially resected mandible were created using a TC scan of a cadaver's totally edentulous mandible. Two types of totally implant-supported rehabilitation were simulated, with four implants: parallel fixtures on whole mandible and on resected mandible, All-on-four-configured fixtures on whole mandible and on partially resected mandible. A superstructure comprising only metal components of a prosthetic framework were added, while stress distribution and its maximum values were analyzed at bone, implant, and superstructure level.
Results: The results highlight that: (1) implant stresses are greater on the whole mandible than on the resected one; (2) framework and cancellous-bone stresses are comparable in all cases; (3) on the resected mandible, maximum stress levels at the cortical-bone/implant interface are higher than in whole-mandible rehabilitation. The opposite applies for maximum stresses on external cortical bone, measured radially with respect to the implant from the point of maximum stress at the interface.
Discussion: On the resected mandible, All-on-four configuration proved biomechanically superior to parallel implants considering radial stresses on implants and cortical bone. Still, maximum stresses increase at the bone/implant interface. A design with four parallel implants minimizes the stress on a resected mandible while, on the whole mandible, the All-on-four rehabilitation proves superior at all levels (bone, implant, and framework).
Keywords: Biomechanics; Mechanical stress; Prosthesis implantation.
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