Evaluation of Structural and Biomechanical Characterization of Implant for Cranial Restoration

The objective this research was to investigate the biomechanical properties of various structures and thicknesses of implants for cranial restoration. A three-dimensional (3D) printing (3DP) technique has been applied in factories for several decades, but it was only recently introduced to the dental field less than 10 years ago. The structures of pre-shaped cranial mesh implants are critical factors for clinical applications. Many previous studies used finite element models to investigate for implants, but few examined a 3D model for pre-shaped cranial mesh implants with different structures and thicknesses. 3D cranial models were reconstructed using computer tomography to simulate preshaped cranial mesh implants under physical impacts. Data indicated that the stress significantly decreased when implants with greater thicknesses were used. Moreover, the implant with a circular structure created a relatively smaller stress that was approximately 7% lower compared to the implant with a triangular structure. As described above, the results of the present study demonstrate that 3DP-Ti is a reliable material of implants for cranial restoration.