Aims: Crestal and basal implants are endosseous aids to create osseointegrated points of retention. These two types of implants are not only differentiated by the way they are inserted, but also by the way the forces are transmitted. The purpose of this study is to compare the micromotion between two crestal and one basal implant-supported crown, when the mesiodistal space is 14 mm in mandibular first molar region.
Materials and methods: A three-dimensional finite element method was used to evaluate the micromotion in two osseointegrated crestal implants and one basally osseointegrated implant when the mesiodistal space is 14 mm in mandibular first molar region. The loads were applied according to cusp—marginal ridge relation. A total of 333 N and 645 N of load was applied to premolar and each molar respectively. The results were analyzed using von Mises criteria.
Results: The results of the comparison of crestal and basal implants to replace mandibular first molar demonstrated that micromotion in crestal implant (14.545) was less than in basal implant (36.031).
Conclusion: Thus, within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that the use of two crestal implants to replace a missing mandibular first molar with mesiodistal edentulous space of 14 mm is a preferable option as compared with basal implant to replace a missing mandibular molar.