Biomechanical effect of an occlusal device for patients with an implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis under parafunctional loading: A 3D finite element analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Whether providing an occlusal device for a patient with bruxism and an implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis leads to improved biomechanics is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this 3D finite element analysis (FEA) study was to evaluate the biomechanical behavior of 3-unit implant-supported prostheses under parafunctional forces with and without an occlusal device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight 3D models consisting of a posterior (type IV) maxillary bone block with 3 external hexagon implants (Ø4.0×7.0 mm) and 3-unit implant-supported prostheses with different crown connections (splinted or unsplinted) and an occlusal device under functional and parafunctional loading were simulated. The abutment screws were evaluated by von Mises stress maps, and the bone tissue by maximum principal stress and microstrain maps by using a finite element software program. RESULTS: An occlusal device improved the biomechanical behavior of the prostheses by reducing stress in the abutment screws and stress and strain in the bone tissue. However, the use of an occlusal device was not sufficiently effective to negate the biomechanical benefit of splinting. CONCLUSIONS: The use of splinted crowns in the posterior maxillary region with an occlusal device was the most effective method of reducing stress in the abutment screws and stress and strain in the bone tissue when parafunction was modeled.

Hypolipidemic effect of the edible mushroom Agaricus blazei in rats subjected to a hypercholesterolemic diet.

The effects of Agaricus blazei intake on the lipid profile of animals fed a hypercholesterolemic diet were evaluated. Thirty-two female Fisher rats were divided into four groups and given the standard AIN-93 M diet (C), this diet + 1 % A. blazei (CAb), a hypercholesterolemic diet with 25 % soybean oil and 1 % cholesterol (H) or this diet + 1 % A. blazei (HAb) for 6 weeks. Food intake, weight gain, liver and serum lipid profiles, activity of aminotransferases [alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)], and creatinine and urea levels as well as abdominal fat weight were measured. Histological analysis of kidney and liver tissue was also performed. The HAb group had a higher food intake, but a lower weight gain as compared to group H. This resulted in a significant decrease in abdominal fat weight, to values close to those of groups C and CAb. Supplementing the hypercholesterolemic diet with A. blazei promoted a significant reduction in total and non-HDL cholesterol, as well as in the atherogenic index, as compared to group H, and this effect was more pronounced in the serum. There was no hepatotoxic effect caused by the supplementation of the diets with the mushroom. We conclude that in our experimental model and in the concentration used, A. blazei was effective in improving the lipid profile of the animals.