Stochastically generated finite element beam model for dental research

Abstract

Dental implantation is currently the most commonly used and physiologically the most favourable procedure for tooth replacement in dental surgery. Implants can have either advantageous or destructive effect on the surrounding bone, depending on several physiological, material and mechanical factors. The most general method for estimating the biomechanical behaviour of the bone is Finite Element Analysis. The microstructural conformation of the trabecular bone - which can be modelled by the means of converting computed tomography images into micro finite element models or in a stochastic way - influences the overall mechanical properties of the bone tissue. To avoid the use of computer tomography imaging and to create a repeatable and variable finite element model, a stochastically generated beam structure was accomplished that possesses the geometrical and mechanical microstructural properties - obtained from literature - of the trabecular bone substance of an average man from the edentulous mandibular re gion. The finite element beam model was submitted to compression tests, and the macro-structural elastic properties were computed from the result data obtained by the means of Finite Element Analysis. Several attempts have been made to achieve the possibly most accurate elastic properties. Considering the shell behaviour of the trabeculae by dividing each beam into three parts with different elastic properties proved to be the most effective and the most suitable for further investigations, in which different types of loading and the finite element model of an implant embedded in the bone is planned to be used.