Aim: Proper stress distribution on dental implants is necessary in bar-retained implant overlay dentures. The purpose of the study is to comparatively assess the stress distribution pattern on the crestal bone at the bone-implant interface due to different bar heights using finite element models (FEMs).
Materials and methods: Eight 3D FEMs were developed from mandibular overdentures with two implants in the canine region separated by a distance of 20 mm. In these models, four different bar heights from the mucosa (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 mm) with 12 mm occlusal plane height were analyzed. A unilateral and a bilateral vertical load of 150 N were applied to the central occlusal fossa of the first molar and the stress of bone around the implant was analyzed by finite element analysis (FEA).
Results: By increasing the bar height, the maximum stress values around implants on the crestal bone were found to be increased in unilateral and bilateral loading models. In unilateral loading models, the maximum stress was found in a model with a 2 mm bar height (0.46 MPa) on the distal side of the ipsilateral implant, and in bilateral loading cases, the maximum stress was also found in a model with a 2 mm bar height (0.456 MPa).
Conclusion: As the vertical cantilever increases (here the bar height), the maximum stress on the crestal bone increases. A minimum of 0.5 mm of space is sufficient between the mucosa and the inferior border of the bar to maintain oral hygiene.
Clinical significance: From the present study, it can be concluded that an increase in bar height causes an increase in stress levels on the peri-implant crestal bone.
Keywords: Bar heights; Dental implants; Finite element analysis; Overdenture Stress analysis..