Original scientific paper
Construction of a Three-Dimensional Model of Teeth for Experimental Biomechanical Investigation by the Method of Finite Elements
Senka Rajić-Meštrović
; Zavod za ortodonciju Stomatološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Mladen Šlaj
; Zavod za ortodonciju Stomatološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Želimir Muretić
; Zavod za ortodonciju Stomatološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Problems connected with the study of the response of the tooth to the effect of system forces are much more complex and difficult to solve than simple measurement of the forces themselves. The aim of this investigation was to develop a method for three-dimensional digitalization of teeth in order to produce a reliable mathematical model of a tooth. The construction of a three-dimensional mathematical model of a tooth with accompanying supporting structures for biomechanical investigations by the method of finite elements. An upper canine, extracted for parodontal reasons, served as the sample for construction of the mathematical model. A three- dimensional mathematical model of the upper canine was obtained, comprising 4000 elements of hexa- dic form and 2367 nodes, with a total of 7101 degrees of freedom for the whole model. The periodontal ligament was modelled for the whole length of the root, 0.25 mm in width. The layer of compact was modelled at a depth of 2 mm. It is anticipated that this method will be widely applied in the future, because of the possibility of simulating different positions of the tooth, and different heights of the alveolar bone and therapeutic situations in which teeth extractions are performed.
Keywords
biomechanical investigation; stomatognathic system
Hrčak ID:
97649
URI
Publication date:
15.9.1999.
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