ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to analyze the mechanical behavior of five titanium dental implants with a hexagonal external connection. Two in vitro studies were performed: a compression test and a dynamic loading test. Then a probabilistic approach based on Markov chains and cumulative damage model was computed. Load and Young’s modulus was chosen as random variables. Results obtained by this mathematical model provided the principal statistics of the fatigue life of dental implants and the cumulative probability function. Results obtained by the mechanical test and the theoretical model are in accordance. Therefore, this study provides a novel approach to study and design fatigue life in dental implants.
