PDF Download - Glidewell Dental Labs

Optimizing the Design of Zirconia Implant
Abutments: A Finite Element Analysis
by Vaheh Golestanian, MSc; David Leeson, MSc;
Grant Bullis, MBA; and Weihan Zhang, Ph.D
INTRODUCTION
Esthetic concerns are essential for anterior tooth restorations. Zirconia is a widely used engineering ceramic considered to
have high load strength and fracture toughness compared to other ceramic materials used in dentistry. It is also a highly
biocompatible ceramic material less prone to discoloring the cervical soft tissues than metal abutments. 1 Zirconia, like other
ceramics, is sensitive to tensile stresses and extreme care must be taken to design the prosthetic connection to the implant
so that tensile stresses are minimized. Manufacturing small, high-precision components from zirconia is challenging, and it
requires rigorous attention to detail in every aspect of the manufacturing process. Small defects introduced during manufacturing
can lead to fractures, and poor tolerance control can lead to rotational play between abutment and implant, which
can result in loosening of the abutment’s retaining screw. 2,3
– Optimizing the Design of Zirconia Implant Abutments: A Finite Element Analysis – 21