Finite element stress analysis of Ti-6Al-4V and partially stabilized zirconia dental implant during clenching

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this paper is to compare the differences in stress between Ti-6Al-4V and PS-ZrO₂ dental implant during clenching and whether these changes are clinically significant to limit the use of zirconia in oral implantology. Materials and methods. The model geometry was derived from position measurements taken from 28 diamond blade cut cross-sections of an average size human adult edentulous mandible and generated using a special sequencing method. Data on anatomical, structural, functional aspects and material properties were obtained from measurements and published data. Ti-6Al-4V and PS-ZrO₂ dental implants were modelled as cylindrical structure with a diameter of 3.26 mm and length of 12.00 mm was placed in the first molar region on the right hemimandible. Results. The analysis revealed an increase of 2–3% in the averaged tensile and compressive stress and an increase of 8% in the averaged Von Mises stress were recorded in the bone–implant interface when PS-ZrO₂ dental implant was used instead of Ti-6Al-4V dental implant. The results also revealed only relatively low levels of stresses were transferred from the implant to the surrounding cortical and cancellous bone, with the majority of the stresses transferred to the cortical bone. Conclusion. Even though high magnitudes of tensile, compressive and Von Mises stresses were recorded on the Ti-6Al-4V and PS-ZrO₂ dental implants and in the surrounding osseous structures, the stresses may not be clinically critical since the mechanical properties of the implant material and the cortical and cancellous bone could withstand stress magnitudes far greater than those recorded in this analysis.

Key Words::

• finite element analysis
• FEA
• mandible
• dental implant materials
• clenching
• metallic dental implant
• ceramic dental implant
• partially stabilized zirconia
• titanium
• Ti-6Al-4V
• PS-ZrO₂

Acknowledgement

The corresponding author would like to express his gratitude to Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Research Fellowship (#1988_2011) for supporting this research.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.