Numerical analysis of the behavior of dental implant

M. Wierszycki1,2 , W. Kkol2, T. odygowski1 , W. Hdzelek3 and R. Zagalak3

1/Inst. of Structural Engineering, Pozna University of Technology, Piotrowo 5, 61965 Pozna, Poland 2/ BudSoft - HKS Representative, w. Marcin 58/64, 61-807 Pozna, Poland 3/ University of Medical Sciences, Fredry 10, 61-701 Pozna, Poland

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.

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2. Formulation of the boundary value problem

On the basis of technical documentation of commercial implantological system (Fig.1) the finite element models of implant were created. The system is an example of commonly used one. It consists 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 (grade IV), whereas the other elements are made of surgical titanium alloy (grade V). The calculations were carried out using ABAQUS/Standard (Hibbitt, 2001), which makes the full simulation of implant behavior possible. ABAQUS/Safe (Draper, 1999) allows to carry out the analysis of the fatigue phenomenon of the material model. The axisymmetric model was used to establish the distribution of stresses (particularly theirs concentrations) and localization of plastic strains in elements of prosthetic implants. It was possible for the presented model to show the simulation of connecting this model by a screw (first step: preloading from tightening moment) and later loading in the plane of symmetry by neighbourhood teeth. These simplifications could be avoided in 3-D model. The 3-D models can completely describe the precise geometry of implant. The using of 2-D axisymmetric models reduced the model size and cost of calculations, simultaneously enabled to verify the results obtained from earlier 2-D models. However, we believe that only thorough 3-D description of geometry of implant-abutment we would be really successful in modeling the real behavior of the implant. The spiral threads involving the contact and friction between the external and internal surface of thread allowed for the full simulation of kinematics of the system. It established the actual distribution of stresses in the connecting screw and considered loads from torsion. For all the models non-linear characteristics of materials, titanium alloy (which description was based on the certificate of conformity) were taken. The implant model was fixed in all degrees of freedom at the base and vertical walls of the implant body. This simulates embed the implant in the cortical and cancellous bone. It finds its explanation in dental practice were hardly any moving of implants under the physiological occlusal load were stated. Moving of the dental implants, slight but noticed from time to time, is the result of flexibility of bone but not a way of periodontal ligament like it is in term of teeth. The problem of describing the constitutive law of bone as a very complex and variable in time anisotropic structure was not taken under consideration in this study. The values of loads and directions of forces are taken on the grounds of physiologically proven scheme. To estimate the least favourable distribution of stress only the maximal realistic occlusal forces were taken. These forces are estimated on the level of 600 N. They were applied axially to the crown of a tooth model, and with 30, 45, 90degree off-axis orientation (Fig.2). For the fatigue calculations it is necessary to establish the character of changeability of load in the shape of curve load-time. In applied low-cycled scheme of 24-hours loads the average values were 60 N. The calculations are based on advanced uniaxial fatigue algorithms, incorporating a plasticity model that uses stress results from the model, variations in loading, hysteresis loop cycle closure, and cyclic material properties to estimate life to fatigue. On the basis gained from the FEA and description of changeability of loads estimation of fatigue strain live is calculated.

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.

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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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Figure 1. View of implant.

Figure 2. Loading configuration.

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Figure 3. Finite element mesh for axisymetric model.

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Figure 4. The Mises stresses distribution after tightening.

2002 ABAQUS Users Conference