An investigation of effect of rigid and nonrigid connector designs on implant as pier abutment in implant tooth-supported fixed dental prosthesis with three-dimensional finite element analysis: An In vitro study

Introduction: The effect and stress distribution of rigid and non-rigid connectors were evaluated on a 5-unit fixed partial denture (FPD) with an implant as pier abutment by finite element analysis. Materials and Methods: A three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography with Digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) format output was made for a patient with the implant in the second pre-molar region of the maxilla and missing the first pre-molar and first molar. In the obtained 3D finite element method (FEM) model, the implant in the second pre-molar region acts as a pier abutment. The canine and second molar served as terminal natural teeth abutments. By using CATIA V.05, the features of the implant in the second pre-molar region of 13 mm length and 3.75-mm diameter and 5 unit FPD tooth implant-supported prosthesis with rigid and non-rigid connector FEM models were made with a static vertical occlusal load of 250N. The areas and locations of maximum and minimum concentration of stress were analysed using Von Mises stress values for all the models at 10 Mpa. Results: The analysis of the von mishes stress values exposed the maximum stress concentrations at the load areas of all models. For all models, the highest stress values were located at connectors and cervical regions of abutment teeth, especially at the pier abutment. Conclusion: The area of maximum stress concentration at the pier abutment was decreased using the non-rigid connector at the mesial surface of the pier abutment.