Assessment of Stress Distribution in Three-dimensional-printed Implant Models Using Finite Element Analysis

INTRODUCTION: Finite element analysis (FEA) is a widely used method to evaluate the biomechanical aspects of dental implants; however, its clinical reliability depends on experimental validation. With the introduction of three-dimensional (3D) printing, customized implants offer potential improvements in stress distribution. The study was done to evaluate and compare stress distribution in conventional and 3D-printed implant models using FEA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An experimental research was done with a sample size of 480 observations. 3D implant models were developed and analyzed using ANSYS Workbench under simulated loading conditions (100-150 N). An in vitro validation was performed using strain gauges under mechanical loading. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS version 25.0 with P < 0.05. RESULTS: The 3D-printed implant models demonstrated significantly lower stress values across all regions, particularly at the crestal bone. In vitro strain values were also reduced in the 3D group. A strong positive correlation was found between FEA and experimental findings (r = 0.872, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: 3D-printed implants exhibit improved biomechanical performance with reduced stress concentration and strong validation of FEA outcomes.