Effect of force angle on the strain distribution of osseointegrated dental implants

In this work, we investigate the response of the anisotropic maxilla bone in the peri-implant region, when osseointegrated implants are subjected to external forces at different angles, based on the stress and strain distribution by the finite element method. Models were created to represent a portion of a maxilla bone (upper first molar region) with two types of implants which have different thread geometry (squared and V-shaped) and material (Ti-6AL-4V ELI and grade IV Titanium). Compressive axial (150 N) and oblique load (150 N at 45° angle) were applied to anisotropic models of the bone tissues. Complete osseointegration was assumed. Results demonstrated that the increase of the implant inclination leads to a more critical behaviour. Oblique loading is more detrimental to stress and strain distribution than axial load. Stress fields were more efficiently distributed by squared thread implants.