Influence of a micro-thread at cervical position and a cylindrical intermediate zone on the mechanical behaviour of dental implants: A three-dimensional finite element analysis.

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to analyse the influence on the biomechanical behaviour of dental implants of a micro-thread at their cervical part as well as of a cylindrical geometry at an intermediate zone. Stresses and strains in the elements involved, that is, bone, implant, screw and abutment, have to be considered in detail. Three different three-dimensional finite element models are generated to analyse the behaviour of the various components under the so-called tightening and operating conditions. For the modelling, material specifications for the cancellous bone and cortical bone, on one hand, and titanium properties for the implant, screw and abutment, on the other, are implemented. The tightening condition was fixed according to the stresses in the screw. The operating conditions were simulated by applying a force of 150 N, taking into account ISO 14801:2007 standard. The maximum stress under tightening conditions occurs always in the screw, while under operating conditions it is produced at the screw or the abutment, although considerable stress values are also present in the implant. In all the models, the maximum stress at the junction between the implant and the bone occurs within the cortical bone. Implants provided with micro-thread at the cervical position are advantageous over homogeneously threaded implants since lower stresses in both the implant and the adjacent bone are produced. A cylindrical intermediate portion on the implant surface does not present special advantage over the implants with continuous external thread under tightening and operating conditions.