A biomechanical rationale for the use of short implants.

In general, the use of short implants has not been recommended by some because it is believed that occlusal forces must be dissipated over a large implant area in order for the bone to be preserved. Finite element modeling (FEM) analyses have shown that the occlusal forces are distributed primarily to the crestal bone rather than evenly throughout the entire surface area of the implant interface. Since masticatory forces are light and fleeting, these forces are normally well-tolerated by the bone. It is the bruxing forces that must be adequately attenuated, and this may be done by increasing the diameter and number of implants.