Abstract
Objective
Emerging evidence suggests an increased incidence of mechanical complications in natural
teeth, particularly maxillary premolars, adjacent to dental implants. This study aimed
to investigate and compare the maximum von Mises stress induced in a natural tooth
adjacent to either a natural tooth or a dental implant under different occlusal loading
and interproximal space conditions.
Materials and Methods
Three-dimensional finite element models of maxillary first and second premolars were
generated for both control (two natural teeth) and experimental (first premolar dental
implant and natural second premolar) groups to analyze stress levels and distributions.
Occlusal forces were applied to the second premolar, and the resulting maximum von
Mises stress was compared between groups. The influence of dental implant presence,
interproximal space, and occlusal load contact position and direction on the stress
level and distribution in the loaded tooth was investigated.
Results
Compared with the control group, the experimental group exhibited higher stress levels
in the natural second premolar under occlusal forces, although the stress distribution
remained similar. The presence of interproximal spaces, either between natural teeth
or between a tooth and an implant, exacerbated stress in the loaded teeth due to reduced
proximal contact area and increased stress concentration. Additionally, the position
and direction of occlusal force contact differentially affected the stress level,
although not the stress distribution, within the experimental tooth group.
Conclusion
Dental implants increase stress on adjacent natural teeth, particularly when interproximal
space exists. Occlusal force direction and position influence stress in loaded natural
teeth, whether adjacent to other natural teeth or implants. The results underscore
the critical importance of comprehensive patient evaluation, meticulous treatment
planning, and consistent maintenance in dental implant restorations to mitigate potential
complications affecting adjacent natural teeth.
Keywords
adjacent natural tooth - dental implants - finite element analysis - stress distribution
- tooth displacement
