Finite Element Analysis of Blade Implants and their Modifications as a Nonstandard Solution in Toothless Atrophied Alveolar Crest of Mandible

The applications of blade endosteal dental implants (BI) are justified in the cases of significant bone resorption of the alveolar ridge of the distal edentulous areas of the mandible and when the use of screw endosteal dental implant (SDI), osteotomy or augmentation do not bring long-term solutions. The aim of this work was a finite element analysis (FEA) of the stresses in BI and in the adjacent bone after immediate and delayed loadings in the atrophied bone of mandible. It was found out that von Mises stresses exceeding Ti6Al4V strength were generated in the neck of the existing commercial BI regardless of the level of osseointegration. The modifications of BI dimensions and shape were required to prevent locus minor and to guarantee their long-term stability. Osseointegration caused only small differences in the value of maximum stresses in the cases, when modified BI was applied in the free-standing abutment indications. Involvement of modified BI in the framework system with tooth or SDI caused reduction of maximum von Mises stresses well below the yield strength of Ti alloy and that of compact bone both in immediate and delayed loading cases. The work emphasizes the benefits of BI for unconventional solutions in the treatment of extreme atrophies of the residual ridge crest distal parts of the mandible.