Micromotion of Dental Implants: Basic Mechanical Considerations

Figure 3

Description of scenario 2, where the implant rests on a layer of elastic trabecular bone with no contact existing between the vertical implant walls and the walls of the bony socket (left). The apically located layer of bone may be substituted by a spring which is compressed when an axial load is applied on the implant (center). Due to the great difference in elastic modulus between implant and trabecular bone, relative implant displacement is independent from the region of the implant considered (right).