Stress dissipation characteristics of four implant thread designs evaluated by 3D finite element modeling

Abstract

Purpose: The aim was to investigate the effect of implant thread designs on the stress dissipation of the implant. Materials and methods: The threads evaluated in this study included the V-shaped, buttress, reverse buttress, and square-shaped threads, which were of the same size (depth). Building four different implant/bone complexes each consisting of an implant with one of the 4 different threads on its cylindrical body (4.1 mm × 10 mm), a force of 100 N was applied onto the top of implant abutment at 30� with the implant axis. In order to simulate different osseointegration stages at the implant/bone interfaces, a nonlinear contact condition was used to simulate immature osseointegration and a bonding condition for mature osseointegration states. Results: Stress distribution pattern around the implant differed depending on the osseointegration states. Stress levels as well as the differences in the stress between the analysis models (with different threads) were higher in the case of the immature osseointegration state. Both the stress levels and the differences between analysis models became lower at the completely osseointegrated state. Stress dissipation characteristics of the V-shape thread was in the middle of the four threads in both the immature and mature states of osseointegration. These results indicated that implant thread design may have biomechanical impact on the implant bed bone until the osseointegration process has been finished. Conclusion: The stress dissipation characteristics of V-shape thread was in the middle of the four threads in both the immature and mature states of osseointegration. (J Korean Acad Prosthodont 2015;53:120-7)