A Step by Step Guide to Finite Element Analysis in Dental Implantology

As a consequence of dental implant treatment being considered effective, safe and predictable they are now a preferred solution for those who have lost teeth due to dental caries, periodontal disease, injuries or other reasons. The biomechanical performance of implants cannot be proven or tested in vivo due to difficulties in assessing or quantifying the level of osseointegration, the stability of the implant and various other factors. Finite element analysis (FEA) has been used extensively to examine intractable and inaccessible interfaces of the dental implant assembly and to predict biomechanical performance as well as the effect of clinical factors on implant success. Although an in depth understanding of the theory, method, application and limitations of FEA in implant dentistry will help the clinician to interpret results of FEA studies and extrapolate these results to clinical situations, this article explains the basic practical steps involved in the utilization of FEA from a viewpoint of a researcher interested in conducting studies in dental implantology.