Background and Aims: Relative displacement of the implant with respect to bone and quality of bone-implant contact play critical roles in the dental implant stability. The goal of this study was to investigate the dental implant stability using non-linear finite elements method. Therefore, bone-implant relative displacement due to applied force to the implant was calculated, and then an appropriate factor for defining quality of bone-implant contact was presented.
Materials and Methods: In order to develop a three dimensional model and compare the results with clinical studies, computed tomography (CT) scan data of a rabbit tibia was considered as a base. The model was exported to ABAQUS 6.9-1 to be analyzed using nonlinear finite elements method. Dynamic analysis was done on the model using the proper boundary condition and dynamic loads.
Results: Force-displacement curves in bone-implant interface were nonlinear. Friction coefficient, which is a criterion for implant stability and relative displacement, approximately became doubled as the vertical contact force was halved. However, the friction coefficient decreased with reduction of coulomb frictional coefficient.
Conclusion: Friction coefficient, which is calculated upon force-displacement curves, could be considered as a criterion to evaluate the dental implant stability. Decrease of the vertical contact force and also using rough surfaces improved the quality of bone-implant contact and stability of dental implant.