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CC BY 4.0 · European Journal of General Dentistry 2025; 14(03): 308-320
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1800841
Original Article

Biomechanical Evaluation of Stress Distribution in a Natural Tooth Adjacent to a Dental Implant Using Finite Element Modeling

Authors

  • Kunyawan Thaungwilai

    1   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

  • Yanee Tantilertanant

    2   Department of Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

  • Punyavud Tomeboon

    1   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

  • Weerachai Singhatanadgit 

    3   Faculty of Dentistry and Research Unit in Mineralized Tissue Reconstruction, Thammasat University (Rangsit Campus), Pathumthani, Thailand

  • Pairod Singhatanadgid 

    1   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

Funding The first author was financially supported by The 100th Anniversary Chulalongkorn University Fund for Doctoral Scholarship.
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Abstract

Objective

Emerging evidence suggests an increased incidence of mechanical complications in natural teeth, particularly maxillary premolars, adjacent to dental implants. This study aimed to investigate and compare the maximum von Mises stress induced in a natural tooth adjacent to either a natural tooth or a dental implant under different occlusal loading and interproximal space conditions.

Materials and Methods

Three-dimensional finite element models of maxillary first and second premolars were generated for both control (two natural teeth) and experimental (first premolar dental implant and natural second premolar) groups to analyze stress levels and distributions. Occlusal forces were applied to the second premolar, and the resulting maximum von Mises stress was compared between groups. The influence of dental implant presence, interproximal space, and occlusal load contact position and direction on the stress level and distribution in the loaded tooth was investigated.

Results

Compared with the control group, the experimental group exhibited higher stress levels in the natural second premolar under occlusal forces, although the stress distribution remained similar. The presence of interproximal spaces, either between natural teeth or between a tooth and an implant, exacerbated stress in the loaded teeth due to reduced proximal contact area and increased stress concentration. Additionally, the position and direction of occlusal force contact differentially affected the stress level, although not the stress distribution, within the experimental tooth group.

Conclusion

Dental implants increase stress on adjacent natural teeth, particularly when interproximal space exists. Occlusal force direction and position influence stress in loaded natural teeth, whether adjacent to other natural teeth or implants. The results underscore the critical importance of comprehensive patient evaluation, meticulous treatment planning, and consistent maintenance in dental implant restorations to mitigate potential complications affecting adjacent natural teeth.

Keywords

adjacent natural tooth - dental implants - finite element analysis - stress distribution - tooth displacement


Publication History

Article published online:
20 January 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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