Analysis of Short Implants and Lateralization of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve With 2-Stage Dental Implants by Finite Element Method

Abstract

There are difficulties for dental implant use in posterior mandible when there is little bone height for implant placement. Among the treatment alternatives available, there is no direct comparison between short implants and conventional implants placed with lateralization of the inferior alveolar nerve. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate the risk of peri-implant bone loss of the above treatments. With this aim, computed tomography scans of mandibles were processed, and implants and prosthetic components were reverse engineered for reconstruction of three-dimensional models to simulate the biomechanical behavior of 3-element fixed partial dentures supported by 2 osseointegrated implants, using simulations with the finite element method. The models of implants were based on MK III implants (Nobel Biocare) of 5- and 4-mm diameter by 7-mm length, representing short implants, and 4- and 3.75-mm diameter by 15-mm length, representing implants used in lateralization of the inferior alveolar nerve. All models were simulated with prestress concerning the stresses generated by the torque of the screw. Axial and oblique occlusal loads at 45% were simulated, resulting in 8 different simulations. The results showed that the risk for bone loss in osseointegrated implants is greater for treatments with short implants.

Clinical and radiographic evaluation of implants placed by means of inferior alveolar nerve lateralization: a 5‐year follow‐up study

“…Using finite element analysis, Vasco et al. () assessed the risk of bone loss comparing 7 with 15 mm implants, concluding that there was a greater risk with short implants. Jayme et al.…”

Prosthetic Rehabilitation Using Short Dental Implants Associated With Homogenous Bone Graft

“…The proximity to the mandibular canal would have compromised even the placement of short implants. Other alternatives such as lateralization of the inferior alveolar nerve 11 and osteogenic distraction 12 could have been considered with the same objective but were not, because they presented greater morbidity to the patient. The use of short implants alone, in some cases, may be sufficient to overcome the lack of bone height.…”

Comparison of Two Clinical Procedures in Patient Affected with Bone Deficit in Posterior Mandible

“…But these two techniques generate higher costs, procedure time and donor site morbidity [7]. Furthermore, patients who had fixed short implants had greater bone loss during follow-up than in longer regular implants [11]. Patients who had IANL have better occlusal conditions [12].…”