Three dimensional finite element analysis of the stress distribution around the mandibular posterior implant during non-working movement according to the amount of cantilever

PURPOSE: In case of large horizontal discrepancy of alveolar ridge due to severe resorption, cantilevered crown is usually an unavoidable treatment modality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical criteria for the placement of the aforementioned implant crown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mandible model with 2 mm thick cortical bone and cancellous bone was fabricated from CT cross-section image. An external connection type implant was installed and cantilevered crowns with increasing offset of 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 mm were connected. Vertical load and 30° oblique load of 300 N was applied and stress around bone and implant component was analyzed. A total of 14 cases were modeled and finite element analysis was performed using COSMOS Works (Solid works Inc, USA). RESULTS: As for the location of the vertical load, the maximum stress generated on the lingual side of the implant became larger according to the increase of offset distance. When the oblique load was applied at 30°, the maximum stress was generated on the buccal side and its magnitude gradually decreased as the distance of the offset load increased to 5 mm. After that point, the magnitude of implant component's stress increased gradually. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that for the patient with atrophied alveolar ridge following the loss of molar teeth, von-Mises stress on implant components was the lowest under the 30° oblique load at the 5 mm offset point. Further studies for the various crown height and numbers of occusal points are needed to generalize the conclusion of present study.