Immediate-load implants with maxillary sinus augmentation are becoming more and more popular in clinics nowadays. However, most studies on the maxillary sinus augmentations and immediate-load implants are still dependent on the clinical experiences rather than scientific-based data. Therefore, there is no general consensus of how a grafted bone (made of various grafted materials such as autogenous bone, xenografts or the mixture of autogenous bone and xenografts) could predominately influence the stability and bone stress distribution of an immediate-load implant. The purpose of this research is to combine the technologies of micro-computer tomography (micro-CT) analysis and three dimensional (3D) non-linear finite element simulations to investigate the effect of various grafted materials on immediate-load implant with maxillary sinus augmentation. It will furthermore provide useful clinical suggestions to the clinicians before immediate-load implant treatments are performed especially in the maxillary region. This research will be divided into two major portions to be completed within the one-year span. During the first stage, after the maturation of healing period a biopsy of grafted bone will be analyzed by the micro-CT to show the (1) 3D bone mineral density, (2) 3D structure of trabecular bone, (3) bone volume fraction, (4) Bone surface/bone volume ratio, (5) 3D porous of bone, as well as (6) anisotropic material properties. The grafted bone will be compared to ones placed with other various grafted materials in maxillary sinus. At the second stage, the 3D finite element models with an anatomic human maxillary bone and implant will be created by applying various grafted bones’ anisotropic material properties. Then the non-linear contact analysis will be carried out to analyze the implant-bone sliding distance and bone stresses value. The results of this research would provide practical information for clinicians to predict the primary implant stability and surrounding bone loss of immediate- load implant with maxillary sinus augmentation.
