Raghdaa Final.doc


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Finite element stress analysis study for stresses around 
mandibular implant retained overdenture MIR-OD 

 
Raghdaa K. Jassim, B.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D. (1) 
Ibrahim K. Ibrahim, B.D.S., C.E.S., D.S.O. (2) 
 
ABSTRACT 
Background: It has been well known that the success of mandibular implant- retained overdenture heavily depends 
on initial stability, retention and long term osseointegration this is might be due to optimal stresses distribution in 
surrounding bones. Types of mandibular implant- retained overdenture anchorage system and number of dental 
implants play an important role in stresses distribution at the implant-bone interface. It is necessary to keep the 
stresses below the physiologic tolerance level of the bone .since. And it is difficult to measure these stresses around 
bone in vivo. In the present study, finite element analysis used to study the stresses distribution around dental implant 
supporting Mandible implant retained overdenture 
Materials and methods: Eight models were constructed including four designs of anchorage system (ball-cup, ball-O 
Ring, bar without distal extension and bar with distal extension).The first group of models were supported by four 
dental implant and second group of models were supported by two dental implant only. Models constructed from 
the data obtained directly from patient The contour of bone was obtained from C.T scan image of patient, then 
data transferred to ANSYS program for modeling then load applied and solve the equation by the program, 
Specified nodes were selected at the rings of crestal bone (cortical bone) and cortical cancellous interface around 
each dental implant and fixed for all models to monitor the stress change in that regions of different design of MIR-
OD.. After load application, Specified nodes were selected at the rings of crestal bone (cortical bone) and cortical 
cancellous interface around each dental implant and fixed for all models to monitor the stress change in that  
regions of  different design of MIR-OD   .  
Results: In the present study the stress distribution and maximum stresses value around dental implant had a 
relationship to the number of dental implant.  , The result appeared that the maximum stresses and means of stresses 
value was lower in the first group of models (which was supported through the use four dental implant) than the 
second group of models (which was supported through the use of two dental implant only). For the first group of 
models the maximum stresses value around mesial implant was11.67, 10.51, 10.98 and 10.72 Mpa, while the maximum 
stresses around distal implant was 21.33, 18.51, 18.86, and17.56 Mpa for models 1,2,3 and 4respectively ,and the 
stresses around implant supporting second group of models was 22.52, 22.16, 20.51 and 19.60 Mpa for models 
5,6,7and8 respectively .Statistical analyses of means value appeared that there was statistically significant difference 
in stresses means value around implant of the second group with that’s values around mesial and distal implant 
supporting first group of model . Regarding the result of both ball and bar system, it has been demonstrated that 
stress was greater with ball attachment and MIR-OD supported by the use of four dental implants and anchored by 
bar attachments with distal extension gives the minimum values of stresses than the rest models. Also the results show 
that higher stresses value was appeared at the cortical bone ring surrounding dental implant especially the distal 
implant nearest to the free end extension area. Also it was appeared that the best model was Mandible implant- 
retained overdenture that’s anchored by bar with distal extension and support by four dental implant  . 
Conclusions: Bar-clips with distal extension mode of attachment considered the best type in producing the least 
stresses around dental implant regardless number of dental implant used. 
Key wards: Implant, overdenture, stresses, bar, ball. (J Bagh Coll Dentistry 2014; 26(2): 30-36). 
 

INTRODUCTION 
The use of osseointegrated fixtures in dentistry 

has been demonstrated both histologically and 
clinically to be beneficial in providing long term 
oral rehabilitation in completely edentulous 
individual.  The concept of implanting two to four 
fixtures in a bony ridge to retain a complete 
denture prosthesis appealing therefore, as 
retention, stability and acceptable economic 
compromise to the expanse incurred with the 
multiple fixture supported fixed prosthesis (1).  

Mandibular implant-retained overdentures are 
generally anchored by at least two implants placed 
in canine or slightly medial to it (2-7). The most 
common  forms  of anchorage  ball  attachment (5)  
(1)Assistant Professor (Ph.D. student during the research) 
Department of Prosthodontics. College of Dentistry, 
University of Baghdad. 
(2)Retired Professor. 

and two clips on bar connecting the implants (7). A 
tissue borne overdenture relies primarily on the 
residual alveolar ridge for support, the widely 
held assumption that the load is shared between 
implants and mucosa (5,6). 

Biomechanical influence plays an important 
role in the longevity of bone around implant (8). 
Forces on prosthesis e.g. during chewing will 
transfer to bone surrounding the implant so the 
long term of function of dental implant system 
will depend on the biomechanical interaction 
between bone and implant. Several methods used 
to evaluate stresses around dental implant; one of 
the most important is the FEA. This methods offer 
advantages of accurate representation of complex 
geometries easy model modification and 
representation of internal stresses and other 
mechanical quantification (9). Beside that 
knowledge stresses distribution can provide 



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important information in the treatment planning 
phase of clinical case implant placement and by 
minimizing adverse loading and the number of 
clinical studies. , So FEM can be considered as 
first step before clinical application. 
 
MATERIALS ANDMETHODS 
Design of FEA part of study 

The present study was design to study 
different eight models of MIR-OD which divided 
into two groups: in the first group, the first fourth 
models of MIR-OD supported by four dental 
implants, while in second group the rest fourth 
models supported by the use of two dental 
implants. Also each group of model was attached 
with different MIR-OD attachments.  
 
Modeling 

The most important point on which FEA 
depends on was the accurate representation of 
model in order to get a realistic FEA model, so 
that in this study the data obtained directly from 
patient according to the following steps : 
 
Dimensions of bone model 

The model of mandibular bone has two parts 
the inner parts called the cancellous bone and the 
outer parts called the cortical bone. The whole 
dimensions of the mandibular bone were obtained 
directly from the patient depending from C.T scan 
image of patient (10-12). C.T scan radiograph image 
of mandibular bone was taking while the patient 
was wearing complete denture (13). The C.T scan 
radiograph images were scanned with negative 
scanner to be stored in a special folder in 
computer. This scanned mandible radiographic 
images of C.T scan radiography have not very 
well border to be outlined, to get the outer total 
volume of the mandible the images of each slice 
were processed in a manner as shown in Figure. 
(1) and then a line drown at the outer border of 
each slice So that each slice transferred to 

ANSYS program, then the line between slices 
filled with area then with volume so the cortical 
bone volume of mandible was finished to give the 
total volume of mandible as shown in Figure (1) 
on the following procedure:  
 
Final volume of mandible bone 

The measurement of cortical bone from 
radiographic image showed that the cortical bone 
was 2 mm thickness (14, 15) so there was an order in 
ANSYS program to isolate 2 mm volume from 
the outer surface of mandible towered inside to 
have mandible bone with two volume outer 
volume cortical bones and the inner volume 
cancellousbone. The dimensions of final volume 
of mandibular bone were 25mm from the upper 
surface of mandible to the lower border of it; 
2mm thickness of cortical bone and the thickness 
of cancellous bone 8mm as shown in Figure (1). 
 
Design and modeling of dental implant  

Nobelpharm 60◦ thread dental implant was 
selected with 10 mm length and 4 mm width .The 
implant was used in this study taken from 
Nobelpharm implant system. The geometrical 
shape of thread and final shape of dental implant 
(16) as shown in Figure (2) with the ball super 
structure 2.25 mm diameter of ball attachment, 
cups attachment also modeled according to the 
measurements (17) shown in Figure (2). 
 
Modeling of Mucosa 

All thickness of mucosa covering the cortical 
bone was 2 mm thickness except section of retro 
molar pad area 3 mm (18,19) as shown in Figure 
(3).Sectioning of the lower complete denture was 
done at the midline area in Bucco-lingual 
direction and at the areas of canine – premolar, 
premolar – molar, molars-retro molar pad areas. 
Dental Vernia was used for measurement of 
sections of lower complete denture the 
measurement as follow: 

 

Figure 1: CT radiographic image processed and final mandibular bone 
 



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Figure 2: Dental implant threads dimensions and design with titanium cup 

 
Molar section 

From the tip of buccal cusp to the lower border 
of the buccal flange, tip of the lingual cusp to the 
lower border of lingual flange. 
 
Boolean stage 

This stage includes collection of all parts of 
the model which include mandible bone, Mucosa, 
dental implant, overdenture attachments, and 
complete denture. The first step of this stage was 
subtraction step; this was performed for mandible 
bone at the site 8 mm from midline for the 
placement of 1st implant and 2nd site 3mm from 
1st implant for each half of mandible. Subtraction 
was performed at the inner surface of complete 
denture at the site of retention cups. As shown in 
Figure (3) mandible bone of cortical bone and 
cancellous bone b) mucosa c) dental implant d) 
overdenture of ball cup attachment as shown in 
Figure (3).  
 
Subtraction stage and site of dental implant 
with measurements 

Glue relation applied for the relation between 
deferent parts of model. At the end of this stage 
the1stmodel was finished which compose of tooth 
with denture base buccally to the same point 
lingual. From these measurements the final 
geometrical shape of complete denture was 
modeled as shown in Figure (3).  Complete 
denture section measurements and final 
geometrical shape of complete denture convexity 
buccal convexity at the buccal surface of tooth to 
the maximum convexity at the lingual side, from 
the point at the junction central fossa to the 
impression surface of lower complete denture, 

maximum buccal. Complete fist model with ball-
cup attachments. For the next three model which 
include MIR-OD supported by four dental implant 
in mandible and  different design of MIR –OD 
attachment so the changes would be in upper part 
of implant super structure and inner surface of 
MIR-OD. Starting with 2nd model O-ring 
attachments used. In case of 3rd model bar – clip 
between dental implant was used (20). While in 
case of 4th model it had bar-clip with distal 
extension 3mm length. The second group of 
models has the same mode of attachments as the 
first group but the MIR-OD supported by two 
dental implants.  
 
Defining of materials properties 

In most of FEA studies the properties of all 
materials used were isotropic homogeneous and 
liner elastic (9,21). The properties of materials used 
in this study (dental implant, cortical bone, 
cancellouse bone. titanium, resin, mucosa. As 
shown in Table (1). 

 
Table 1: Properties of materials 

 

Material  
Young's 
modulus  

MPa 

Poissonُs 
ratio 

Cortical bone 13.700 0.3 
Cancellouse 

bone 1.37 0.3  

Titanium 103.400 0.3 
Plastic rubber 0.01-0.1 0.37 

Resin  3.000 0.3 
Mucosa 1 0.39 



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Figure 3: Mandibular with dental implant and complete denture models 
 
Boundary condition 

The volume at the slice of the upper part of 
Ramus was assumed to be fixed in axial anterior-
posterior, medio –lateral directions to avoid the 
whole model from sinking when applying load to 
the implant while the reminder of the model was 
left free. 
 
Meshing generations 

In order to obtain an accurate results fine mesh 
of the three dimensional element model will be 
generated as shown in Figure (4) 
 

 

 

 

 
Figure 4: Half section of meshed model 

 
Load application  

The load used in this study was 35 N  directed 
axially down ward applied on a three position 
selected at the central surface of MIR-OD  at three 
sites 1st area between premolar and first molar, 
2nd  at firstmolar central fossa and 3rd area at the 
area between first and second molar. 
 
Solving of the equations 

The program now calculates the displacement 
and then the stresses at each node presenting .The 
software solve from one million and two thousand 
to nine hindered thousand equations for each 
model. The run time was about 7 hours. 

 
Listing of the results 

Based on von misses theory which state that 
failure occurs when evaluation stresses for the 
actual case is equal the yield strength of the 
material at selected nodes (22). Specified nodes 
were selected at the rings of crestal bone (cortical 
bone) and cortical cancellouse interface around 
each dental .in vivo load on MIR-OD in two 
direction vertical and horizontal which either 
bucco -lingually or mesio - distally appeared that 
the horizontal force are approximately 50% of the 
vertical forces is important to consider a 
combination of axial and horizontal load on the 
assumption that the implant and fixed for all 
models to monitor the stress change in that  
regions of  different design of MIR-OD. The 
result for all nodes at each ring were huge so to be 
more specified the ring of bone represented as 
ring of 360° angle and the result selected at a node 
located at every 10° of angle. 
 
RESULTS  

Most of the researchers’ results were listed the 
equivalent stresses in their result, since it 
represent the principle stresses around the dental 
implant. Because of there were shear stresses 
generated around dental implant and this type of 
stresses very dangerous type of stresses and to 
have idea about the shear stresses generated 
around dental implant their distribution maximum 
values. In the present study octahedral shear 
stresses which represent the total equivalent shear 
stresses were listed. 

In table (2) the highest mean values of stresses 
is (12.215)Mpa around distal implant of models in 
1st group of models. Also the highest mean values 



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around implant of 2nd group of models (14.35) as 
shown in table (3) . 

The behavior of stresses distribution around 
mesial and distal implant of the 1st group of 
models group of models during vertical load is 
highly significance differences as shown in Table 

-4 .Statistical analyses of means value appeared 
that there was statistically significant difference in 
stresses means value around implant of the second 
group with that’s values around mesial and distal 
implant supporting first group of models as shown 
in table 5 and 6. 

 
Table 2: Means and stresses values of stresses in Bone Ring surrounding mesial and distal 

implant of the first group of models during vertical load applications 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 

Table 3: Means and maximum values of stresses in Bone Ring surrounding implant of the 
second group of models during vertical load applications 

Models  

2nd implant 
Shear stress at  

Cortical/ cancellous 
Ring 

Stresses at 
Cortical bone 

ring 
Mean SD Mean SD 

Models 1 1.204 1.204 14.35 0.914 
Models 2 1.15 1.15 13.84 0.869 
Models 3 1.013 1.1008 13.11 0.885 
Models 4 0.9 0.903 12.14 0.813 

 
Table 4: Paired t-test for the comparison of stresses around mesial and distal implant of the 1st 

group of models group of models during vertical load 

Models  

Mesial implant Distal implant 
Shear stresses at 

cortical cancellous 
bone ring 

Equivalent stresses at 
Cortical bone ring 

Equivalent stresses 
at Cortical bone 

ring 

Shear stresses at 
cortical cancellous 

bone ring 
Sig  Sig Sig  Sig 

Models 1&2 NS S S S 
Models 1&3 S HS S HS 
Models 1&4 HS HS S S 
Models 2&3 S S NS HS 
Models 2&4 HS HS NS S 
Models 3&4 HS HS NS HS 

P<0.05 S, P>0.05NS, P<0.0001HS 
 

Table 5: Paired t-test for the comparison of stresses around mesial implant of the 1st group of 
models with that around implant of the second group of models during vertical load 

  
 

 
 

 

 

Models 

1st group Mesial implant 1st group Distal implant 
Shear stress at 

Cortical/cancellous 
ring 

Stresses at 
Cortical bone  

Ring 

Shear stress at 
Cortical/cancellous 

ring 

Stresses at 
Cortical bone  

ring 
Mean  SD Mean  SD Mean  SD Mean  SD 

Models 1 0.581 0.05 6.566 0.43 1.171 0.05 12.213 0.88 
Models 2 0.531 0.05 6.262 0.39 1.1429 0.05 11.724 0.78 
Models 3 0.463 0.04 5.870 0.41 1.068 0.06 10.93 0.81 
Models 4 0.475 0.04 5.700 0.40 0.966 0.06 9.922 0.70 

Models 
Shear stresses at cortical  

cancellous bone ring  
Equivalent stresses at 

Cortical bone ring 
P value Sig P value Sig 

Models 1&5 0.000 HS 0.000 HS 
Models 2&6 0.000 HS 0.000 HS 
Models 3&7 0.000 HS 0.000 HS 
Models 4&8 0.000 HS 0.000 HS 



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Table 6: Paired t-test for the comparison of stresses around distal implant of the 1st group of 
models with that around implant of the second group of models during vertical load 

 
 
 
 
 
 
DISCUSSION 

In the present study the result appeared that the 
maximum stresses value and means of stresses 
around each dental implant supporting MIR-OD, 
regardless of the number of dental implant 
supporting MIR-OD different anchorage system. 
The stresses result was higher at cortical bone ring 
than that at cortical/cancellous bone ring. This 
result was in consistence with the results of 
clinical study which suggest that late failure take 
place after implant neck, where most of the 
stresses accumulate at the cortical bone area (23-25). 

Statistical analyses of means value appeared 
that there was statistically significant difference in 
stresses means value around implant of the second 
group with that’s values around mesial and distal 
implant supporting first group of model .This 
means that the use of single implant in each side 
of dental arch offer what two dental implants 
offer. This means that increase number of dental 
implant supporting the MIR-OD add longer 
survival time for each dental implant. And the use 
of single implant in one side make the dental 
implant had less survival time especially if it was 
aggravated by other factors such as plaque 
accumulation at gingival area. This results was 
coinciding with Blum and McCord and Braka 
(26,27), they stated that the responsibility of 
posterior ridge and oral mucosa in providing 
retention, support and stability for MIR-OD were 
shift from the mucosa to dental implant as more 
dental implant are used. For the result of stresses 
distribution around dental implant supporting 
MIR-OD appeared that the distribution of 
maximum stresses value lies at the distal and 
mesial surface of two dental implants. 
 
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