Stress distribution around maxillary anterior implants as a factor of labial bone thickness and occlusal load angles: a 3-dimensional finite element analysis.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the stress/strain distribution in buccal bone of an anterior maxillary implant using 3 bone thicknesses under 5 different loading angles. Different testing conditions incorporating 3 buccal bone thicknesses, 3 bone compositions, and 5 loading angles of an anterior maxillary implant were applied in order to investigate the resultant stress/strain distribution with finite element analysis. The maximum equivalent stress/strain increased with the decreasing of loading angle relative to the long axis. In addition to loading angle, bone quality and quantity also influenced resultant stress distribution. Dental practitioners should consider combinations of bone composition, diameter, and load angulations to predict success or failure for a given implant length and diameter.