Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the mechanical influence of

edentulous mandibular morphology on peri-implant bone in implant prosthetics by

finite element analysis. Materials and Methods: Computed tomographic data from 25

patients with edentulous mandibles were selected and the radius of mandibular

curvature and the height of the mandible at the midline were measured in order to

clarify the morphological characteristics of the mandible. From the measurement, two

patients with the smallest and largest radii of the mandible were selected. Two types of

three-dimensional finite element models consisting of the edentulous mandible (small

and large radius), superstructure (a cantilever bridge), implants, and abutments were

created. Four implants were inserted between the right and left mental foramina. The

upper surface of the mandibular condyle was constrained, and a vertical load of 100 N

was applied on the occlusal surface of the right first molar. Three-dimensional finite

element analysis of each model was performed to examine the mechanical influence of

the edentulous mandibular morphology on the peri-implant bone. Results: Measurement

of mandibular morphology in CT images indicated that the lower the mandibular height

was, the larger was the radius of the anterior mandibular curvature. Finite element

analysis revealed that a higher equivalent stress was generated in the peri-implant bone

of the model with a larger radius of curvature than that of the model with a smaller

radius of curvature. The highest equivalent stress in the mandible was generated in the

distal margin of the peri-implant bone posterior to the loaded side of the large radius of

curvature model. Conclusions: The mandibular morphology had a mechanical influence

on the peri-implant bone.