A comparison of three finite element models of an edentulous mandible provided with implants.

The stress distribution in an edentulous mandible provided with two implants in the interforaminal region was calculated by means of three different finite element models. The implants were connected with a bar or remained solitary. The first model was a three-dimensional representation of the entire mandible, the second model of the interforaminal region of this same mandible, whilst the third model was a two-dimensional representation of the interforaminal region. The differences in stress distribution around the connected implants and the solitary implants between these three models were analysed. It can be concluded that for a parameter study the stress distribution around the dental implants following from a three-dimensional finite element model of only the interforaminal region of an edentulous mandible can be used. For such studies therefore, benefit can be gained from the advantages of reduced modelling and calculation time.