Novel customized peri-implant device to reduce stress and strain levels in maxillary bone: influence of design parameters and material

Load transfer at the bone-implant interface is crucial for dental implant success. This study used finite element analysis to evaluate the biomechanical behavior of a novel customized peri-implant device designed to improve load transmission in the first molar region of a maxilla with type II bone quality. The peri-implant device features a dense upper portion and a porous lower structure. Through experimental design, the influence of the height of the dense upper portion and the porosity of the remaining geometry on the stress and strain levels generated in the cortical and trabecular bones was determined. Additionally, two experimental runs were introduced, differentiated by the absence of a peri-implant device and by the presence of a completely dense scaffold. Static loads were applied to the crown with values that approximate masticatory forces, under delayed loading conditions. The results of the simulations demonstrated that the customized device models significantly reduced peri-implant bone stress and strain compared to the dental implant alone under identical conditions. The maximum stress in the cortical bone decreased from 122 MPa to 28–52 MPa, while the stress in the trabecular bone decreased from 8.3 MPa to 2.5–4.3 MPa. Similarly, the maximum strain in the cortical bone was reduced from 0.0039 to 0.0010–0.0023, and the strain in the trabecular bone decreased from 0.0093 to 0.0026–0.0059. Furthermore, the height of the dense zone of the devices and their porosity have a statistically significant influence on the stress and strain levels generated in the peri-implant bone.