Biomechanical Study of Implant Treatment For Maxillas With Different Bone Quality

Author(s): Takaaki Arahira, Mitsugu Todo

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to characterize the effects of the implant treatment on the distribution of the strain energy density in the maxillas using finite element analysis.

Methods: Three-dimensional maxillary bone models of a male and a female patient were constructed using their CT-images. The distributions of Young’s modulus were estimated from their bone mineral density distributions. Total six implants were embedded into each of the maxillary models. Finite element analysis of the maxilla models was then performed in order to assess the concentrations of the strain energy density, especially in the vicinity of the embedded implants under the two different loading conditions.

Results: In both models, strain energy density was concentrated especially around the right-molar implant, suggesting the outbreak of damage and subsequent absorption of bone tissue in this region. The female model with smaller size and lower bone density exhibited much higher localized concentration of the strain energy density than the male model. Therefore, a modified placement of the right-molar implant was then introduced into the female model and such high concentration was effectively reduced by using the inclined and longer implant.

Conclusion: This kind of three-dimensional modeling can clinically be used to predict the optimal implant treatment for each of dental patients.