Titanium meshes are widely used in guided bone regeneration (GBR) to maintain graft space and support new bone growth. Mesh thickness can influence not just mechanical stability but also stress transmission to graft and bone—factors that affect healing success. A new finite element analysis (FEA) study published in BMC Oral Health modeled titanium meshes of 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, and 0.3 mm thickness over a mandibular defect to simulate masticatory loading and assess stress distribution.
Under a 30 N vertical load, the 0.1 mm mesh showed high max stress—981 MPa—suggesting risk of plastic deformation and graft damage, with graft stress reaching 35 MPa. The 0.2 mm version improved performance: mesh stress dropped to 452 MPa and graft stress to 11.6 MPa, offering a balance between strength and flexibility. The 0.3 mm mesh delivered optimal results, with mesh stress of 226 MPa, graft stress of 7.8 MPa, and bone stress of just 3.1 MPa—indicating superior load buffering. All bone stress remained below safety thresholds, but the 0.3 mm mesh clearly minimized risk to both graft and underlying bone. Although the 0.2 mm mesh may still be viable when surgical flexibility or cost is a concern, its graft stress values were marginally higher and require cautious use.
While thicker meshes deliver better mechanical protection, they may be harder to adapt intraoperatively and could increase soft tissue tension. The findings point to 0.3 mm as the most reliable thickness for optimal mechanical performance in GBR. The authors underscore the value of FEA for mesh design optimization, though they call for clinical validation since biomechanical models cannot account for biological factors like tissue integration or healing dynamics.
Keywords: titanium mesh, mesh thickness, guided bone regeneration, finite element analysis, mechanical stress, graft protection, bone stress, implant dentistry, GBR materials, BMC Oral Health
