Comparison of ultimate force revealed by compression tests on extracted first premolars and FEA with a true scale 3D multi-component tooth model based on a CBCT dataset.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop a new method for creating a multi-component and true scale 3-dimensional (3D) model of a human tooth based on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First maxillary premolar tooth model was reconstructed from a patient's CBCT images. The 2D serial sections were used to create the 3D model. This model was used for finite element analysis (FEA). Model validation was performed by comparing the ultimate compressive force (UF) obtained experimentally using a universal testing machine and from simulation. The simulations of three component-omitting models (silicone, cementum, and omitting both) were performed to analyze the maximum (max.) principal stress and stress distribution.

RESULTS

The simulation-based UF indicating tooth fracture was 637 N, while the average UF in the in vitro loading was 651 N. The discrepancy between the simulation-based UF and the experimental UF was 2.2%. From the simulation, the silicone-omitting models showed a significant change in max. principal stress, resulting in a UF error of 26%, whereas there was no notable change in the cementum-omitting model.

CONCLUSION

This study, for the first time, developed a true scale multi-component 3D model from CBCT for predicting stress distribution in a human tooth.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This study proposed a method to create 3D modeling from CBCT in a true scale and multi-component manner. The PDL-like component-omitting simulation led to a higher error value of UF, indicating the importance of multi-component tooth modeling in FEA. Tooth 3D modeling could help determine mechanical failure in dental treatments in a more precise manner.