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Abstract : The clinical observations on patients with dental implants have focused the attention to problems caused by the mechanical fracture of implants. In some cases the character of fracture indicates material fatigue as the main reason. The purpose of the work is to introduce the term of a guaranteed failure-free period to prosthetics. To achieve this goal the computer simulations involving the finite element code ABAQUS was applied. The models consist of implant with internal nonrotational hexagonal connection with the assembled abutment with hexagonal base. The implant body is connected with the abutment by a titanium screw. The implant is made of medical titanium, whereas the other elements are made of surgical titanium alloy. The calculations were carried out to simulate full implant behavior.
1. Introduction
The long-term research works, clinical experience in implantology and prosthetic dentistry as well as new materials used in production, laid on the basis of the effective and common introduction of this form of dental treatment. However, numerous clinical observations on patients, on whom the dental restorations with the application of implants were made, draw the attention to the risk of occurring the complications. In some cases these problems are caused by the mechanical fracture of implants themselves (Eann, 1992, Kocada, 1985). Usually, in the late phase, the most frequent complications are: loosing of the retaining screws, micro-cracking and fracture of dental implant components. The loosing of the retaining screw causes mostly patients discomfort of using the implants and could be relatively easy improved, however cracking leads to serious complications and make the further treatment extremely difficult. The defective static work of the mechanical system of implant and in the extreme cases the overloading of the structure are the proximate causes of complications. In some observed cases the character of fracture indicates material fatigue as the basic reason. One of the purpose of this work is to introduce the term of guaranteed failure-free period (well known in mechanical engineering) to prosthetics.The study of implants in their real environment is practically impossible while, in turn, the laboratory tests are expensive and complicated. To understand the reasons of the observed mechanical complications, the knowledge on the stress and strains field in implant components as well as the conditions of contact and kinematical effects between particular elements is necessary. Therefore, the computer simulation involving the finite element method was used (Beat, 2000, Jian-Ping, 2001, Ronald, 1993). It enables to trace the operation of examined implants under the applied loads with the established material features and the conditions of components contact with satisfying accuracy and with relatively low costs.
3. Numerical simulations
Though the actual threads are helical they are represented as axisymmetric geometries for modeling purposes. Thus the finite element model is axisymmetric. Contact conditions between the internal side of abutment and titanium screw are modeled with slide line interface elements (SLI). The titanium alloy is characterized by a von Mises plasticity material model with isotropic hardening. A sequence of loads is applied to the model. First, thread engagement is performed as an initial interference between screw and abutment, then tightening is simulated with the help of temperature effects. The subsequent 2 2002 ABAQUS Users Conference
bending produces deformations that are not axisymmetric but are symmetric about a central plane. In Fig.3 axisymetric mesh accepted to computations with some local details is presented. Although it is possible to consider this as a fully 3-dimensional model, such an approach could lead to excessive model size and unacceptable execution times, especially when considering the geometric detail of the threads. For comparison purposes only the full 3D model was built which resulted in 100,000 elements. ABQUS/Standard provides a family of axisymmetric solid elements (CAXA) that are capable of modeling nonlinear asymmetric deformation. The solid elements use standard isoparametric interpolation with respect to the radial and axial directions, combined with Fourier interpolation along the circumferential direction. Four Fourier modes were used in our analyses. The advantages of these elements over a fully 3-dimensional model are simplicity when generating the finite element model and less computational expense when executing the analysis. The Mises stresses after the first step of the analysis (tightening) is shown in Fig. 4. Idependently of the computations we have made an experiment using the analizer of cyclic loadings (DMA) located in the Institute of Physics of Poznan University. The loading of 8 N was applied perpendicularly to the long axis of symetry. During the cyclic loading constantly the bending displacements were measured. The value of displacements varied between 9-12 m. In computations, after application of the bending load (second step of the analysis) it appeared that the driven displacement of 10 m generates the horizontal force about 10 N. When taking into account the boundary conditions which in experiments were not fully fixed the results obtained in computations are very close to that observed in experiment.
4. Numerical results
On the basis of results obtained it was proved that distribution of stresses in implant components should not cause cracking. Local concentrations of stresses and yielding of titanium cannot be the source of observed mechanical failures. In the cases under consideration we plan to estimate the number of cycles up to failure using the module ABAQUS/Safe. The detailed results will be presented during the Conference. According to accompanying dental complications connected with serious difficulties with further effective treatment, we propose to introduce the guaranteed period of life of implants. For this term with sufficiently high probability the little risk of occurring above-mentioned mechanical complications can be assumed. However, after this time we should replace endangered components of the prosthesis. In that way the term failure-free, which is widespread in high-tech branches of industry like aviation, motorization etc. which prevent effectively from threats resulted from fatigue changes in metals, would be introduced into the dental practice.
5. Conclusions
On the basis of the obtained results it was proved that distribution of stresses in implant components should not cause cracking. Local small area concentrations of stresses and the plastic strains of titanium cannot be a source of observed mechanical failures. However, the preliminary computations proved that the material fatigue analysis can lead to fatigue failure. According to accompanying dental complications connected with serious difficulties with further effective treatment, it was proposed to introduce the guaranteed period of life of implants. The unscrew of the connected elements and the parameters of friction at contact surfaces can also influence the estimation of the failure phenomena and will be further elaborated.
6. Acknowledgments
The research reported herein has been sponsored by the Pozna University of Technology Grant BW11-167/2002. This help is kindly acknowledged.
7. References
1. 2. ABAQUS 6.2 Manuals (2001), Hibbitt, Karlsson and Sorensen, Inc. Providence, USA. Ronald L. Sakaguchi, Svenn E. Borgersen, Nonlinear finite element contact analysis of dental implant components, The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants, 7 (1) (1993) 655661. Beat R. Merz, Stephan Hunenbart, Urs C. Belser, Mechanics of the implant-abutment connection: an 8-degree taper compared to a butt joint connection, The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants, 15 (4) (2000) 519-526. Eann A. Patterson, Richard B. Johns, Theoretical analysis of the fatigue life of fixture screws in osseointegrated dental implants, The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants, 7 (1) (1992) 26-33. Jian-Ping Geng, Keson B. C. Tan, Gui-Rong Liu, Application of finite element analysis in implant dentistry: A review of the literature, The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, June (2001) 585-598. Draper J., Modern metal fatigue analysis, HKS, Inc. Pawtucket, 1999. Stanisaw Kocanda, Fatigue damage of metals [in Polish], WNT, Warszawa 1985.
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