Stress Tensor Modification in Alveolar Bone Resorption: 3D Analysis Using Finite Element Method

The main goal of this research was to evaluate the stress produced in tooth, PDM,spongy bone, and cortical bone consequent to force application (1 N) to the crown of anupper central incisor, while the alveolar bone resorbs gradually. Four 3-dimensionalFEM models were designed (ARGue392-5) with the same form except for their alveolarbone support that represented 1, 2.5,5, and 6.5 mm of reduction. All the output datawere compared with a normal model (ARGue391). Normal stress in palato-labial yz,yx) were evaluated. A progressive increase in all stress forms were found in all of the involved tissues in gradual steps of alveolar bone loss. Based upon this study, 2.5 mm of alveolar bone loss can be considered as the limit beyond which the normal stress changes accelerate. This limit is 5 mm for the shearing stresses. There were some clinical suggestions on the manner of force application and the appliance selection, based on the findings of this study, in the article.