Numerical Traceability and High-Load Response Departure in Finite Element Analysis of an Implant-Supported Haybrid Ceramic Crown

Abstract

Background: Finite element analysis (FEA) is widely used to examine stress and deformation in dental restorations. However, a numerical interpretation is most convincing when the underlying geometry, boundary conditions, mesh, contact definitions, and solver settings can be traced clearly. This study compares two ANSYS configurations of an implant-supported hybrid ceramic crown and examines whether the observed numerical differences can be connected to documented model features.

Methods: Two three-dimensional static-structural configurations, designated Configuration A (nominal 120) and Configuration B (nominal 160), were analyzed under vertical loads of 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, and 1400 N. Maximum principal stress, maximum principal elastic strain, equivalent (von Mises) stress, and total deformation were obtained from the ANSYS output tables. Before the numerical responses were compared, the available geometry summaries, body volumes, node and element counts, contacts, loading history, result scoping, and solver settings were checked for consistency. B/A ratios and ordinary least-squares load-response fits were then used as descriptive measures; no inferential hypothesis testing was performed.

Results: The reviewed model-summary fields were the same in both configurations, including an overall model volume of 877.68 mm³, a cement-body volume of 8.1156 mm³, 729,292 nodes, 448,331 elements, three active bonded contacts, and Large Deflection set to Off. Configuration A showed an almost proportional response across the full loading range. Configuration B followed a similar pattern up to 800 N, but the maximum principal stress then rose from 309.89 MPa at 800 N to 1319.1 MPa at 1000 N, 7919.3 MPa at 1200 N, and 12460 MPa at 1400 N. Equivalent stress reached 12835 and 13347 MPa at 1200 and 1400 N, respectively, whereas total deformation remained close to proportional and reached 0.17829 mm at 1400 N. This upper-load departure is compatible with a localized and/or numerically sensitive response requiring verification, rather than with a demonstrated failure mechanism.

Conclusions: The two configurations support a focused assessment of load-response departure and numerical traceability. Because the reviewed geometry and mesh fields are indistinguishable between them, the upper-load change cannot be attributed to the nominal labels alone. The main contribution of this analysis is to quantify the departure from the lower-load pattern and to show why extreme FEA maxima should not be given a causal interpretation unless the underlying model difference can be demonstrated independently.

Keywords:

finite element analysis, dental implant, hybrid ceramic crown, numerical verification, model traceability, stress analysis, computational reproducibility

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