Abstract Dr. Nobuhiro Yoda

Abstract

While a consistent agreement in the adequate thickness of the peri-implant labial bone to avoid over-loading resorption is required, the biomechanics associated with the labial bone thickness (LBT) of implant placed in the maxillary anterior area remains unclear. This study utilizes time-dependent cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images to establish a self-validating time-dependent finite element (FE) based remodeling procedure to explore the effects of different LBT on peri-implant bone remodeling outcomes in silico. Based upon the clinical CBCT scans, a patient-specific heterogeneous FE model was constructed to enable virtual LBT augmentation at different levels, followed by an investigation into the bone remodeling behavior of the different case scenarios. The findings indicated that although peri-implant bone resorption decreased with increasing initial LBT from 0.5mm to 2mm, different levels of the reduction of bone loss were associated with the amount of LBT. In the case of 0.5 mm LBT, overloading resorption was triggered during the first 18 months, but such bone resorption was delayed when the LBT increased to 1.5 mm. It was found that when the LBT reached a threshold thickness of 1.5 mm, the bone volume can be better preserved. In conclusion, this study introduced a self-validating bone remodeling algorithm in silico, and it divulged that the initial LBT affects the bone remodeling outcome significantly, and a sufficient initial LBT is considered essential to assure long-term stability and success of implant treatment.