title: Fractures of the fixture component of an osseointegrated implant.
abstract: The cause of mechanical failure of the fixture component of an osseointegrated dental implant was investigated. The surfaces of five clinical specimens that had fractured were compared to those of new specimens fractured in the laboratory under monotonic and cyclic loads. Scanning electron microscopy revealed striations on the fractured surfaces of the clinical specimens, similar to striations on the laboratory-fatigued specimens and in contrast to the dimpled surfaces on the overloaded specimens. The investigation demonstrated that fractures of the fixture component of this dental implant occurred by fatigue under physiologic loads, with marginal alveolar bone loss around the fixture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pilliar
mesh_terms: D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000209:etiology; D001732:Bite Force; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants