Finite element analysis of dental implant and invisible aligner interactions: Impact on tooth movement and alveolar bone strain

Abstract

The impact of invisible aligners on patients with dental implants, especially regarding adjacent tooth movement and alveolar bone strain, is not well understood. This study explores the interaction between invisible aligners and dental implants, focusing on how different alveolar bone types and rotational loading affect tooth movement and bone microstrain. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to simulate the application of orthodontic forces from invisible aligners on models with various alveolar bone types (type 1 to type 4) and subjected to 2° rotational loading. The study assessed microstrain in cortical and cancellous bone and examined the effect of adjacent dental implants on target tooth movement. Microstrain in both cortical and cancellous bone generally remained below the critical threshold of 3000 across all alveolar bone types, except for cancellous bone with a Young’s modulus of 6.5 MPa, which exceeded microstrain value of 3000. Type 4 alveolar bone, with its thinner cortical bone, exhibited the highest risk. Adjacent dental implants improved target tooth movement by 14.3%, indicating that implants provide stronger anchorage than natural teeth. The study demonstrates that dental implants can enhance orthodontic treatment with invisible aligners by providing better anchorage and maintaining safe levels of bone microstrain. These findings are significant for managing patients with implants undergoing aligner therapy.