Design of customized coated dental implants using finite element analysis

Abstract

Background. Dental implants are used as a traditional technique to replace missing teeth. In the long-term evaluation of dental implants, the stability and durability of the implant–bone interface are crucial. Furthermore, the success of dental implants depends on several factors, such as osseointegration, implant geometry and surface topography. Objectives. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of coating materials on dental implants by altering several parameters, including the material used, the coating thickness, and different combinations of the cortical and cancellous bones. Material and methods. The coating materials used were hydroxyapatite (HAP), monticellite (MTC) and titanium nitride (TiN). The coating thickness was varied as 50 µm, 100 µm, 150 µm, and 200 µm. Five different bone combinations were used for the proposed finite element model. An axial compressive load of 150 N was applied. Results. The FEA showed that the HAP coating material had a significant effect on minimizing the induced stress concentration for all 5 bone combinations. However, the MTC coating material had a significant effect only on 2 bone combinations (combination 2 and combination 3). Meanwhile, the TiN coating material induced higher stress values. Conclusions. Based on finite element analysis (FEA), it was observed that the coating thickness greatly influenced the concentration of the mechanical stress. Indeed, when the coating thickness was relatively high, the stress concentration value significantly decreased.