Stress Distribution on the Prosthetic Screws in the All-on-4 Concept: A Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis.

Abstract

The all-on-4 concept, which is used to rehabilitate edentulous patients, can present with mechanical complications such as screw loosening and fracture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stress patterns induced in the prosthetic screws by the different prosthetic screw and abutment designs in the all-on-4 concept using finite element analysis. Von Mises stress values on 6 groups of each screw type, including short and narrow screw, short abutment; short and wide screw, short abutment; long and wide screw, short abutment; short and narrow screw, long abutment; short and wide screw, long abutment; and long and wide screw, long abutment, were compared under a cantilever loading of 200 N that was applied on the farther posterior to the position of the connection between the distal implant and the metal framework. Posterior prosthetic screws showed higher stress values than anterior prosthetic screws. The stress values in posterior prosthetic screws decreased as the length and diameter increased. In conclusion, the long and wide screw design offers advantages in stress distribution when compared with the short and narrow design.