Mucosa influence on stresses at peri-implant bone

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of mucosal properties and relining material on the stress distribution in peri-implant bone tissue during masticatory function with a conventional complete denture during the healing period through finite element analysis.

Method: Three-dimensional models of a severely resorbed mandible with two recent placed implants in the anterior region were created and divided into the following situations: (1) conventional complete denture and (2) relined denture with soft liner material. The mucosal tissue properties were divided into soft, resilient and hard. 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). Data were qualitatively evaluated using Maximum Principal Stress, in MPa, given by the software.

Result: All models showed stress concentration in cortical bone corresponding to the cervical part of the implant. The mucosal properties influenced the stress in peri-implant bone tissue showing a different performance according to the denture base material. The simulations with relined dentures showed lower values of stress concentration than conventional ones.

Conclusion: It seems that the mucosa properties and denture reline have high influence on the stress distribution in the peri-implant bone during the healing period.