The Effect of Implant Tilting on the Stresses Transmitted to the Implants in Cantilever Mandibular Prosthesis: A Three Dimensional Finite Element Analysis

To evaluate the effect of mesiodistal tilting of the terminal implants on the stresses distribution around the implant, a three dimensional (3D) model is designed by simulating an edentulous mandible, restored with mandibular cantilever bar overdenture and retained by 3 interforaminal implants. All the parameters are fixed except for the tilt of the terminal implants. Vertical and oblique loads are applied on one side. The stress distribution around the implants in each situation was recorded and compared to correlate the stress magnitude to the implant tilt. The change in the implant tilt resulted in significant change of the stress distribution pattern around the implants where anticantilever tilting of the implant collar resulted in a more homogenous stress distribution, while tilting the collar towards the cantilever direction resulted in stress accentuation at the distal aspect. Tilting the implant collar can be beneficial in improving the stress distribution pattern around the implants in cantilever situations.