Shape optimization of dental implants.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to derive alternative implant shapes which could minimize the stress concentration at the shoulder level of the implant.


METHODS
A topological shape optimization technique (soft kill option), which mimics biological growth, was used in conjunction with the finite element (FE) method to optimize the shape of a dental implant under loads. Shape optimization of the implant was carried out using a 2-dimensional (2D) FE model of the mandible. Three-dimensional (3D) FE analyses were then performed to verify the reduction of peak stresses in the optimized design.


RESULTS
Some of the designs formulated using optimization resembled the shape of a natural tooth. Guided by the results of the optimization, alternative implant designs with a taper and a larger crestal radius at the shoulder were derived. Subsequent FE analyses indicated that the peak stresses of these optimized implants under both axial and oblique loads were significantly lower than those observed around a model of commercially available dental implant.


CONCLUSIONS
The new implant shapes obtained using FE-based shape optimization techniques can potentially increase the success of dental implants due to the reduced stress concentration at the bone-implant interface.
Shi
Li
L
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, The University of Manchester, UK.
Li
Haiyan
H
Fok
Alex S L
AS
Ucer
Cemal
C
Devlin
Hugh
H
Horner
Keith
K
D000465:Algorithms; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design / Q000379:methods*; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008954:Models, Biological
D015921:Dental Implants