Influence of superstructure materials on strain around an implant under 2 loading conditions: a technical investigation

PURPOSE: This investigation was concerned with the effect of 3 superstructure materials on the strain around an implant under static and nonimpact dynamic loading. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five highly filled composite resin-veneered crown analogs, 5 autopolymerized acrylic resin-veneered crown analogs, and 5 gold-alloy full cast crown analogs were prepared. The resin veneers were applied to gold-alloy frameworks. These crown analogs were prepared to fit an ITI implant-abutment assembly, which was screwed into a block of acrylic resin to simulate implantation in bone. The crown analogs were successively placed on the abutment, and a lateral load of 100 N was applied to the superstructure by a lever-type testing machine. Strains were recorded under static and dynamic loading by a 2mm-long strain gauge bonded to the surface of the bone simulant tangential to the implant. The dynamic load simulated masticatory cycles (75 strokes/min). RESULTS: Although the strain values differed significantly between the static and dynamic loading (P < .05), there was no significant difference among the superstructure materials under either loading condition (P > .05). DISCUSSION: These findings are in agreement with in vivo measurements, thus suggesting that cyclic rather than impact loading should be used in the investigation of occlusal material behavior under functional loading. CONCLUSION: Under static and nonimpact dynamic loading, the 3 superstructure materials tested (highly filled composite resin, acrylic resin, and gold alloy) had the same influence on the strain transmitted to a bone simulant that surrounded a single implant.