Effect of Implant-Abutment Connection and Abutment Angulations on Peri-implant Stress Levels: A Finite Element Analysis Study.

Introduction: Placement of an implant in the maxillary anterior region is challenging due to the angulation of bone in this area. Angled abutments may be used to achieve proper restorative contours. The present study was undertaken to examine and compare the stress levels of implants in the maxillary anterior region having different types of internal connections and different abutment angulations.

Material and methods: Implants with three types of abutment connections, internal conical, Morse taper, and internal hex, were modeled using SolidWorks software. Three abutment angulations of 0, 15, and 30 degrees were used for each type of implant. A 100 N axial load was applied to the implants, and the stresses on the implant, abutment, and bone were analyzed by finite element analysis.

Results: Among the straight abutments, the most stress was in model 3A (62.60 MPa). The stress value among angled abutments was highest with 30-degree angled abutments. The value was highest in model 3C (94.83 MPa). Internal hex connection showed the highest stress levels in all degrees of angulation of the abutment, and Morse taper connection showed the least amount of stress in all three abutment angles. The most stress concentration was seen in the cortical bone on the buccal surface in the implant-abutment junction.

Conclusion: The Morse taper design of implant exhibited the least-highest stress levels on the alveolar bone. The stress levels increased with the increasing angulation of the implant or implant-abutment connection.