A Critical Perspective on Mechanical Testing of Implants and Prostheses.

This article critically appraises the most common mechanical testing methods used to characterize the implant-prostheses complex. It attempts to provide insight into the process of construction of an informed database of clinically relevant questions regarding preclinical evaluation of implant biomechanics and failure mechanisms. The use of single load to failure, fatigue life, fatigue limit, and step-stress accelerated life testing is discussed with emphasis on their deliverables, weaknesses, and strengths. Fractographic analysis and challenges in the correlation between laboratory- and in-service-produced failures of dental ceramics, resin composites, and titanium are introduced. In addition, examples are presented of mechanical characterization studies used in our laboratory to assess some implant-supported rehabilitation variables. PMID: 26927484 [PubMed - in process]
Source: Adv Dent Res - Category: Dentistry Authors: Tags: Adv Dent Res Source Type: research