Comparative evaluation of osseointegrated dental implants based on platform-switching concept: influence of diameter, length, thread shape, and in-bone positioning depth on stress-based performance

Comput Math Methods Med. 2013:2013:250929. doi: 10.1155/2013/250929. Epub 2013 Jun 19.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the influence of implant design (in terms of diameter, length, and thread shape), in-bone positioning depth, and bone posthealing crestal morphology on load transfer mechanisms of osseointegrated dental implants based on platform-switching concept. In order to perform an effective multiparametric comparative analysis, 11 implants different in dimensions and in thread features were analyzed by a linearly elastic 3-dimensional finite element approach, under a static load. Implant models were integrated with the detailed model of a maxillary premolar bone segment. Different implant in-bone positioning levels were modeled, considering also different posthealing crestal bone morphologies. Bone overloading risk was quantified by introducing proper local stress measures, highlighting that implant diameter is a more effective design parameter than the implant length, as well as that thread shape and thread details can significantly affect stresses at peri-implant bone, especially for short implants. Numerical simulations revealed that the optimal in-bone positioning depth results from the balance of 2 counteracting effects: cratering phenomena and bone apposition induced by platform-switching configuration. Proposed results contribute to identify the mutual influence of a number of factors affecting the bone-implant loading transfer mechanisms, furnishing useful insights and indications for choosing and/or designing threaded osseointegrated implants.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Computational Biology
  • Computer Simulation
  • Dental Implantation, Endosseous
  • Dental Implants*
  • Dental Prosthesis Design / statistics & numerical data*
  • Dental Stress Analysis
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / statistics & numerical data
  • Maxilla / physiology
  • Maxilla / surgery
  • Models, Dental
  • Osseointegration
  • Stress, Mechanical

Substances

  • Dental Implants