The optimal dental implant: program for improvement of clinical performance, improvement of quality of life for the patient, reduction of the need of animal studies

Research Project, 2011 – 2015

Towards the optimal dental implant: program for improvement of clinical performance, improvement of quality of life for the patient, reduction of treatment costs and reduction of the need of animal studies

Research task 1: Information about the effect of static strain on bone modelling and remodelling adjacent to titanium implants will be

gained. This information is needed for optimization of a dental implant with regard to immediate loading. This optimization refers to implant design, implant surface topography and surgical procedure.

Research task 2: Mathematical models will be developed for calculation of the static bone strain as a function of bone anatomy, implant design, bone preparation procedure, installation torque and implant surface topography. These models will make it possible to optimize implant design and bone preparation procedure with regard to immediate loading. They will also make it possible to determine in which cases immediate loading can be applied.

Research task 3: A finite element model will be developed for estimation of the bone-implant interface shear strength which is produced by various kinds of surface roughness.

Research task 4: The finite element model developed in research task 3 will be validated by means of an experimental study in rabbit.

Research task 5: Finite element models will be developed by means of which the results of resonance frequency measurements can be translated into load bearing capacity.