Stress analysis of a fixed implant-supported denture by the finite element method (FEM) when varying the number of teeth used as abutments.
OBJECTIVE
In some clinical situations, dentists come across partially edentulous patients, and it might be necessary to connect teeth to implants. The aim of this study was to evaluate a metal-ceramic fixed tooth/implant-supported denture with a straight segment, located in the posterior region of the maxilla, when varying the number of teeth used as abutments.


METHODS
A three-element fixed denture composed of one tooth and one implant (Model 1), and a four-element fixed denture composed of two teeth and one implant (Model 2) were modeled. A 100 N load was applied, distributed uniformly on the entire set, simulating functional mastication, for further analysis of the SEQV (Von Mises) principal stresses, which were compared with the flow limit of the materials.


RESULTS
In a quantitative analysis, it may be observed that in the denture with one tooth, the maximum SEQV stress was 47.84 MPa, whereas for the denture with two teeth the maximum SEQV stress was 35.82 MPa, both located in the region between the pontic and the tooth.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower stresses were observed in the denture with an additional tooth. Based on the flow limit of the materials, porcelain showed values below the limit of functional mastication.
Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil. mdlanza2@gmail.com
Marcos Daniel Septímio
MD
Lanza
Paulo Isaías
PI
Seraidarian
Wellington Correa
WC
Jansen
Marcos Dias
MD
Lanza
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001732:Bite Force; D000044:Dental Abutments; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported / Q000379:methods*; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D003765:Models, Dental; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials