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.
Materials and 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) conventional complete denture and (ii) relined denture with soft lining material. The mucosal tissue properties were divided into soft, resilient and hard. The models were exported to mechanical simulation software; two simulations were carried out with a load at the lower right canine (35 N) and the lower right first molar (50 N). Data were qualitatively evaluated using Maximum Principal Stress, in MPa, given by the software.
Results: All models showed stress concentrations in the 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.
Conclusions: It seems that the mucosal properties and denture reline have a high influence on the stress distribution in the peri-implant bone during the healing period.
© 2011 The Gerodontology Society and John Wiley & Sons A/S.