Different prosthetic connections have emerged for better aesthetic and biomechanical performance to prevent peri-implant bone loss. The finite elements analysis and the strain gauge methodologies were used for the numerical analysis of the generated stress and the microstrain around the implants and their connections. Two implant models with the same length (13 x 3.75 mm) were analyzed according to the prosthetic connection: external hexagon or morse Taper. Both abutments received screw-retained metallic crowns in chromium-cobalt. The peri-implant tissue was simulated using polyurethane resin in two different heights (bone level and 5 mm of bone loss). A load of 300 N was applied on the occlusal surface. The results were analyzed in terms of von-Mises stress and micro strain. Samples identical to the numerical models were made for the Strain Gauge (SG) analysis; four SGs were bonded around the implant to obtain micro strain results. Finite element analysis and strain gauge corroborated in terms of similar mechanical response. Thus, there is no difference regarding the prosthetic connection for the generated stress and strain under axial load. However, bone loss increased the stress and strain magnitude for both prosthetic connections. In conclusion, both evaluated implant connections present similar biomechanical behavior regardless the bone height.Implants with internal conical connections (Morse Taper) have been associated with bone crest maintaining, avoiding screws loosening and fracture.

The objective of this current in silico study was to evaluate the influence of axial and non-axial loads on unitary implant-supported implants, with external hexagon or Morse-taper connection in two different bone level, using finite element analysis. Two implant models with the same length (13 x 3.75 mm) were analyzed according to the prosthetic connection (external hexagon or morse Taper) and bone height (bone level or 5 mm of bone loss). Both implant systems received screw-retained metallic crowns in chromium-cobalt. The peri-implant tissue was simulated as an isotropic material (polyurethane resin). The polyurethane block has been fixed and a load of 300 N was applied on the occlusal surface in two different directions (Axial or Non-axial) for each implant model and bone condition. The results were analyzed in terms of von-Mises stress and bone microstrain. The materials were considered isotropic, homogeneous, linear and elastic. The results showed that there is no difference regarding the prosthetic connection for the generated stress and strain under the same load incidence. However, bone loss and non-axial loadings increased the stress and strain magnitude regardless the prosthetic connections. In conclusion, the load incidence is more prone to modify the implant stress and bone microstrain than the prosthethic connection. In addition, the higher the bone loss the higher the stress and strain magnitude generated, regardless the loading condition.