Influence of restoration type on stress distribution in bone around implants: a three-dimensional finite element analysis.

The three-dimensional finite element analysis method was used to assess stress in bone around titanium implants using three treatment designs for a partially edentulous mandible, under axial (AX), buccolingual (BL), or mesiodistal (MD) loads. For each of these loads, highest stress was calculated in the model with a cantilever prosthesis supported by two implants (M2). Less stress was found in the model with a conventional fixed partial denture on two implants (M3), and lowest stress was calculated in the model with three connected crowns supported by three implants (M1). When BL load was applied to M3, cortical bone stress was high, comparable to that calculated for M2 under the same load. When AX or MD load was applied to M3, the cortical bone stress was low, similar to that found in M1 under each of these loads.