Methods: Three-dimensional models of a severely resorbed mandible with two recently placed implants in the anterior region were created and divided into the following situations: (i) 3-mm and (ii) 1.5-mm thick layer of soft liner material covering the entire length of the denture base; and localized application of soft liner material in the implant region of (iii) 3-mm and (iv) 1.5-mm thickness. The models were exported to mechanical simulation software; two simulations were done with load in inferior right canine (35N) and inferior right first molar (50N).
Results: Data were qualitatively evaluated using Maximum Principal Stress given by the software. All models showed stress concentration in cortical bone corresponding to the cervical part of the implant. The simulations with a 3-mm thickness of soft liner material showed lower values of stress concentration than did a 1.5-mm thickness. Likewise, the situations with localized application of soft liner in the implant region showed better results than when the entire denture base was relined. The thickness and area of reline in conventional complete dentures has a direct influence on the stress distribution in the peri-implant bone tissue during the healing period.
Conclusions: Considering the values obtained in this study, the localized use of soft liners in the implant region with the thickest layer possible becomes the most suitable during the osseointegration.
Keywords: Finite analysis, Implants and osseointegration