Jianping Geng, BDS, DrPH, MScD(a) Xuanxiang Ma, DDS, PhD(b) Gui-Rong Liu, PhD(c) and Lung-an Ying, PhD(d)
(a)China Medical University Huayu Hospital, Shaoxing, P. R. China, (b)Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, P. R. China, (c)Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, and (d)School of Mathematical Science, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China
Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of element downsizing on finite element (FE) domains of infinite/finite element (IE/FE) analysis in an implant-bone system.
Materials and Methods: A 2-dimentional implant-bone system was studied by FE analysis and IE/FE analysis respectively. Different element sizes of 3.0, 2.0, 1.0, and 0.5 mm were applied in FE domains respectively.
Results: In IE/FE analysis, element size of 2.0 mm is suggested to be effective. While, in FE analysis, that is 0.5 mm.
Conclusion: Larger element size can be applied in IE/FE analysis than that in FE analysis only. (Int Chin J Dent 2004; 4: 63-66.)
Clinical Significance: IE/FE analysis will be a more effective method than FE analysis in dental biomechanical study.
Key Words: element analysis, element size, implant, infinite element analysis.