Biomechanical Analysis of Pediatric Dental Crowns: A Comparative Study of Zirconia, Bioflex, and PEEK Using Finite Element Analysis.

BACKGROUND

Oral health in children plays a critical role in their overall well-being, influencing physical, psychological, and social quality of life. Early childhood caries (ECC) remains a significant concern, leading to various complications such as speech disorders and loss of vertical dimension. Restorative approaches, including full-coverage crowns, are commonly used to preserve primary teeth, with zirconia crowns being the preferred choice for durability and aesthetics. However, newer materials like BioFlex and PEEK are emerging as promising alternatives.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study employed 3D Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to compare stress distribution and deformation patterns of crowns, including stainless steel (SS), zirconia, polycarbonate, Edelweiss, BioFlex, and PEEK crowns. Virtual 3D models of primary incisors and molars were created using ANSYS v18.1 and Hypermesh V11 software, with material properties derived from literature. Crowns were analyzed under masticatory loads of 100N, 140N, 180N, 245N, and 330N applied at various angles. Stress and deformation were evaluated using the von Mises criterion, with color-coded outputs highlighting stress patterns.

RESULTS

Zirconia crowns exhibited the least deformation (7.227 mm) and stress on dental structures under cervical loading, with overall stress values of 40.95 MPa. In contrast, polycarbonate crowns showed the highest stress values on cement (23.57 MPa) and dentin (34.78 MPa). For posterior crowns, zirconia demonstrated superior stress distribution (overall stress: 286.90 MPa, deformation: 30.17 mm) under oblique loading, while bioflex and PEEK crowns exhibited minimal stress on cement (214.45 MPa) and dentin (267.56 MPa), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Zirconia crowns remain the gold standard for their strength and minimal stress distribution, making them suitable for long-term restoration. However, BioFlex and PEEK crowns showed promising performance, offering biocompatibility and reduced stress distribution. These findings highlight the need for further research to explore their clinical applicability as alternatives to zirconia crowns.