Experimental and numerical analyses of a 3D-printed titanium trabecular dental implant

Abstract

The main focus of this paper is to investigate and describe a novel biomaterial structure. The trabecular structure has only recently been recognized as a viable alternative for prostheses and implants and seems to have very promising biocompatibility and mechanical properties. The 3D printing technique was used to create test specimens. These specimens were then tested by nanoindentation and tensile and compression tests. A numerical model was created and curve-fitted to represent the mechanical behavior of the trabecular structure. A significant reduction in the values of Young’s modulus E was observed. The values of E for conventional implant materials are approximately 110–120 GPa and the trabecular structure reached a value just below 1 GPa. The next effort will be to apply the model onto a real implant. It is the “four leaf clover” implant variant by authors F. Denk Jr., A. Jíra and F. Denk Sr.