STRESS-ABSORBING ELEMENTS IN DENTAL IMPLANTS

By means of finite element analysis, calculations were made of the stress-distribution in bone around implants with and without stress-absorbing elements. A freestanding implant and an implant connected with a natural tooth were simulated. For the freestanding implant, it was concluded that variation in the E-modulus of the stress-absorbing element had no effect on the stresses in bone. Changing the shape of the stress-absorbing element had little effect on the stresses in cortical bone. For the implant connected with a natural tooth, it was concluded that a more uniform stress was obtained around the implant with a low E-modulus of the stress-absorbing element. It was also concluded that the bone surrounding the natural tooth showed a decrease in the height of the peak stresses. © 1990 Mosby-Year Book, Inc.