Finite Element Study of Load Distribution in the Implant, Bone and Prosthetic Component Complex in Atypical Regions of the Maxilla

Bucomaxillofacial prosthetics, a dental specialty dedicated to orofacial rehabilitation, faces considerable challenges due to anatomical limitations and the presence of extensive defects. One of the main obstacles in intraoral prosthetic rehabilitation is the lack of adequate bone structure, which compromises prosthesis stability and affects both the planning of mucosa- or tooth-supported prostheses and the optimal distribution of implants used for retention. The objective of this study is to develop a virtual model illustrating a severe maxillary defect in order to analyze, through finite element methods (FEM), the load distribution and biomechanical behavior of the remaining bone when subjected to masticatory-like forces in implant-supported rehabilitation. A BioCAD protocol provided by the Centro de Tecnologia da Informação Renato Archer (CTI Renato Archer) was used to obtain the virtual model from computed tomography of a hemimaxilla. The structure was mirrored and digitally processed to generate a three-dimensional mesh in Rhinoceros (Rhino). Anatomical and prosthetic layers—including cortical bone, cancellous bone, implants, abutments, prosthetic components, mucosa, and final prosthesis—were individually modeled and assigned specific mechanical properties such as Poisson's ratio, elastic modulus, and density. The complete assembly was exported to SolidWorks Simulation for finite element analysis under physiologically relevant loading conditions simulating mastication. Although the simulations have not yet been completed, the expected outcomes include identifying regions of critical stress concentration, understanding how implant positioning influences load transfer in severely resorbed maxillae, and assessing the mechanical performance of implant-supported rehabilitation in extensive defects. These findings are anticipated to contribute to improved planning protocols and enhanced biomechanical predictability in bucomaxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation, since most studies nowadays still only consider healthy maxillas.