Finite element analysis of vertically loaded cylindrical Ti implants

The following study was conducted in order to evaluate the effects of height, width and design variations on the stress distribution of vertically loaded, cylindrical titanium implants using finite element analysis (FEA). Three groups of cylindrical titanium TPS surface implants (Premium, Sweden & Martina, Italy) inserted into mandible segments were analysed. The three Premium implants in the first group were of different length (10.0, 11.5 and 13.0 mm) but possessed the same diameter of 3.80 mm. The second group consisted of three Premium implants with the same length of 11.5 mm but with different diameters (3.30, 3.80 and 4.25 mm). In the last group two different implant designs were compared, one featuring platform switching and a straight emergence profile and the other without platform switching. Overall, eight implant-bone samples were analyzed and the resulting stress distributions during vertical loading were obtained. For all eight samples, maximum stress values were found in the area of the implant neck and the stress values decreased in the apical direction. The higher stress values in the second group were detected in the implant with smaller diameter. It was noted that the implant with platform switching experienced lower stresses than the one without platform switching. Changes in length did not have any significant effect on the stress distribution. Under a vertical occlusal load, an implant with a larger diameter and with platform switching had the most favorable stress distribution throughout the implant structure and the adjacent bone tissue.