A mimic osseointegrated implant model for three-dimensional finite element analysis

summary The purpose of this study was to develop a new three‐dimensional (3D) mimic model of an osseointegrated implant for finite element analysis (FEA) and to evaluate stress distributions in comparison with a model commonly used in most studies as a control. Based on the 3D computer graphic data obtained by serial in vivo bucco‐lingual peri‐implant bone structure at 75 μm interval in monkey, a mimic FEA model with trabecular structure and a control model with uniform cancellous bone were constructed. A vertical load of 143 N was applied at the top of the implant and induced stress was evaluated at the peri‐implant bone. In the mimic model, stress was distributed at both cortical and cancellous bones (1–5 MPa) in bucco‐lingual central planes, but concentrated at the cortical crest (3–7 MPa) in the mesio‐distal central plane. In contrast, the control model presented stress concentration at the cortical crest around the implant (5–14 MPa), with less stress (0–1 MPa) at the peri‐implant cancellous bone in both planes. The findings, that stress distribution at the peri‐implant bone were quite different between the mimic and control models, suggest the need to carefully interpret stress distribution in previous studies with models of uniform cancellous peri‐implant bone.