Evaluation of the Mechanical Properties of the Bone-Implant Interface

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Skin-penetrating bone-anchored implants are used in a variety of applications to provide tremendous functional benefits to patients. Globally, the dental implant industry has been valued at 5.08 billion USD where implants are used for replacing single teeth, for larger prostheses, and for full dental arches. Bone-anchored-hearing-aids have been available since the 1970s with more than 150,000 global users. Further, bone-anchored implants are used to reconstruct facial features in the orbital, nasal, and auricular regions and in jaw reconstruction using fibular grafts. These implants rely on the structural integrity of the bone-implant interface through a process called osseointegration. Similar concepts of interface integrity can be applied to natural interfaces, such as the bone-ligament-tooth complex of a natural tooth. In this case, the interface is the periodontal ligament (PDL) which connects the tooth root to the surrounding bone. It is estimated that Canadian expenditures on dental services in 2015 reached $13.6 billion. The PDL is a vital structure in dental health with critical functions in tooth stability and orthodontic movement. Noninvasively evaluating the interface integrity in both bone-anchored implants and natural teeth is critically important to understanding the behaviour of these structures in a clinical setting. For the bone-implant interface, this is important to prescribe loading, identify the risk of failure, and monitor the long-term implant health. Similarly, evaluating the complex tooth-ligament-bone structure is important in diagnosing periodontal disease, assessing the PDL after trauma, and understanding the changes associated with orthodontic treatment. The long-term goal of this program is to advance the understanding of the mechanical and biological behaviour of interface tissues in bone-anchored implants and natural teeth. The short-term objectives will focus on: O1: Evaluating osseointegration at the bone implant interface in implants used for craniofacial reconstruction and dental implants O2: Evaluating the integrity of the PDL in natural teeth O3: Validation of the analytical modeling approach The proposed approach uses an acceleration measurement during an impact with the mechanical biological system combined with an analytical model. Numerical analysis is used to couple the experimental measurement with the model to estimate the interface properties. The analytical models are developed through laboratory testing and further evaluated with real patient data. The models will be validated through detailed finite element models and destructive mechanical testing. This research program will provide valuable insight into relevant questions such as appropriate timelines for implant loading, detection of implant failure, and assessment of various stages of tooth stability. The validation of the approach will strengthen the utility of the technique while providing a strong foundation for further research.