Variations in occlusal forces with a resilient internal implant shock absorber.

The importance of an internal shock absorber for implant prostheses has concerned many, primarily because the efficacy of a shock absorber to reduce stress has not been demonstrated in vivo. This study examined 15 subjects with unilateral distal extension single implant abutments attached to a single natural tooth abutment to assess the effect of a shock-absorbing element within the implant on occlusal force levels. Occlusal forces and bilateral occlusal similarity were examined using specially adapted research software for the T-Scan occlusal analysis system. The results indicate that there is a significant difference (P less than 0.011) between occlusal forces using an internal shock absorber (18 N) and a titanium internal element (30 N).