Mechanics of the maxillary central incisor. Influence of the periodontal ligament represented by beam elements

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of loading on a maxillary central incisor with the periodontal ligament (PDL) represented by 2D elastic beam elements using a 2D finite element analysis. Two models (M) were built varying the PDL representation: Mh (homogeneous PDL) and Mht (heterogeneous PDL with beam3 elements). Stress and displacements were determined for three loading conditions (L): Ll, lingual face loading at 45° with the tooth long axis; Li, perpendicular to the incisal edge; and Lip, on the incisal edge, parallel to the tooth long axis. Evaluation was performed on ANSYS software. Lip provided lower stress variation on the tooth and support structures when compared to Ll and Li. PDL's influence on stress values was lower for Lip. Oblique loading showed stress and displacement not observed in parallel loading condition through PDL's heterogeneous representation and it is probably incompatible with the in vivo condition.

Keywords:

• periodontal ligament
• tooth mobility
• biomechanics
• dental stress analysis
• finite element analysis

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil (FAPESP #2006/02336-2).

Notes

^1. [email protected]

^2. [email protected]

^3. [email protected]

^4. [email protected]

^5. [email protected]

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amilcar Chagas Freitas Júnior

1 1. [email protected]

Paulo Henrique dos Santos

2 2. [email protected]

Ching-Chang Ko

3 3. [email protected]

Manoel Martín Júnior

4 4. [email protected]

Erika Oliveira de Almeida

5. 5. [email protected]