Determination of stress distribution on periodontal ligament and alveolar bone by various tooth movements - A 3D FEM study.

AIM

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stress distribution on the maxillary central incisors by various tooth movements using three-dimensional finite element modeling with varying periodontal ligament (PDL) thickness and different alveolar bone height (at the apex and alveolar crest).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A Finite Element Modeling model was created using surface data of the tooth using SolidWorks Software. Different types of force (intrusion, extrusion, tipping, and bodily movement) were applied on the maxillary central incisor, with two different periodontal ligament thickness (0.15 mm and 0.24 mm) and alveolar bone height (at the apex and alveolar crest). Stress generated due to force applied due to different types of tooth movement was calculated and compared.

RESULTS

Maximum stresses generated under intrusion, extrusion, tipping, bodily movement were 9.0421 E N/mm for 0.15 mm pdl at alveolar bone, 7.2833 E N/mmfor 0.24 mm pdl labio-lingually, 9.1792 E N/mm at 0.15 mm pdl at alveolar bone height and 6.2208 E N/mm for 0.24 mm pdl at alveolar crest respectively.

CONCLUSION

The stress pattern seen was nearly the same in all the cases in both PDL thickness. The maximum stress pattern was found to be at the apex of the central incisor, reducing from apex to the cervical region. Intrusion, extrusion, and tipping movement showed the greatest amount of relative stress at the apex of the maxillary central incisor. The bodily movement produced forces at root apex and distributed it all over.