The aim of the present work is to identify the reactions of the dental organs to the different forces that occur during chewing and the transcendence of the union and contact maintained by the dental tissues. The study used a lower first molar biomodel with a real morphology and morphometry and consisting of the three dental tissues (enamel, dentin, and pulp) each with its mechanical properties. In it, two simulations were carried out, as would the process of chewing a food. One of the simulations considers the contact between the enamel and the dentin, and the other does not take it into account. The results obtained differ significantly between the simulations that consider contact and those that do not, establishing the importance of taking this contact into account. In this way, the theories that establish horizontal and lateral occlusion forces are present during the functional chewing process which are viable to be correct. The case studies carried out present not only the reasons for the failure of enamel but also the failure of the restoration materials used. This reflection will allow the development of more adequate materials, mechanical design of prostheses, implants, and treatment.
The modelling of biological structures has allowed great advances in Engineering, Biology, and Medicine. In turn, these advances are seen from the design of footwear and sports accessories, to the design of prostheses, accessories and rehabilitation treatments. The reproduction of the various tissues has gone through an important evolution thanks to the development of computer systems and programs. However, knowledge of the medical‐biological and engineering areas continues to be required, and it involves a considerable investment of time and resources. The resulting biomodels still require great precision. The present work shows a methodology that allows to optimize computational resources and reduce elaboration time of biomodels. Through this methodology, it is possible to generate a biomodel of high biofidelity of a human knee. This biomodel is constituted by hard tissues (cortical and trabecular bones) and soft tissues (ligaments and meniscus) resulting in the modelling of the lower third of the femur, the tibial plateaus, the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, external lateral ligament, interior lateral ligaments, and the meniscus. With this model and methodology, it is possible to perform numerical analyses that will provide results very similar to those of real life. As, the methodology allows to assign the mechanical properties to each tissue and the anatomical structure.
28 January 2020 in Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine
Experimental research on living beings faces several obstacles, which are more than ethical and moral issues. One of the proposed solutions to these situations is the computational modelling of anatomical structures. The present study shows a methodology for obtaining high-biofidelity biomodels, where a novel imagenological technique is used, which applies several CAM/CAD computer programs that allow a better precision for obtaining a biomodel, with highly accurate morphological specifications of the molar and tissues that shape the biomodel. The biomodel developed is the first lower molar subjected to a basic chewing simulation through the application of the finite element method, resulting in a viable model, able to be subjected to various simulations to analyse molar biomechanical characteristics, as well as pathological conditions to evaluate restorative materials and develop treatment plans. When research is focused in medical and dental investigation aspects, numerical analyses could allow the implementation of several tools commonly used by mechanical engineers to provide new answers to old problems in these areas. With this methodology, it is possible to perform high-fidelity models no matter the size of the anatomical structure, nor the complexity of its structure and internal tissues. So, it can be used in any area of medicine.
14 October 2018 in Applied Bionics and Biomechanics
The analysis of the distribution of stress in dental organs is a poorly studied area. That is why computational mechanobiological analysis at the tissue level using the finite element method is very useful to achieve a better understanding of the biomechanics and the behaviour of dental tissues in various pathologies. This knowledge will allow better diagnoses, customize treatment plans, and establish the basis for the development of better restoration materials. In the present work, through the use of high-fidelity biomodels, computational mechanobiological analyses were performed on four molar models affected with four different degrees of caries, which are subjected to masticatory forces. With the analyses performed, it is possible to observe that the masticatory forces that act on the enamel are not transmitted to the dentin and to the bone and periodontal ligament to protect the nerve, as it happens in a healthy dental organ. With the presence of decay, these forces are transmitted partly to the pulp. The reactions to the external loads on the dental organs depend on the advances of the carious lesion that they present, since the distribution of stresses is different in a healthy tooth.
The widely available options of different manufacturers in dental implant systems have complicated the selection criteria process for periodontists, necessitating careful consideration of various factors when selecting suitable solutions for individual patient needs. Optimal implant selection requires careful consideration of the patient-specific factors, implant design, and surgical technique. Understanding the biomechanical behavior of implant–tissue interactions is crucial for achieving successful and long-lasting implant therapy. To adequately address this issue and improve the rigorous selection criteria from a biomechanically numerical approach, this research aims to analyze the stress distribution fields, strain patterns, and load transfer displacements within the implant system and the implant–biological interface (gingival and bony tissues) of titanium three-piece to two–one-piece ceramic implant systems. Thus, three different commercially available dental implants designed to be placed in the jaw molar region were considered for evaluation through the finite element method under both oblique and occlusal loading conditions. The results have exhibited an increasing trend to highlight the outstanding behavior of two-piece ceramic implants to dissipate the stress distribution better (6 and 2 times lower than the three- and one-piece systems under occlusal loads and almost 5 and 1.3 times more efficient for oblique loading, respectively), minimize peak stress values (below 100 MPa), and reduce strain peak patterns compared with the other two evaluated designs. On the other hand, the effects generated in biological tissues are strongly associated with implant geometry features. This biomechanical approach could provide a promising strategy for predicting micro-strains and micromotion in implant system pieces and geometries. Hence, these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the biomechanics spectrum in the behavior of dental implant systems and emphasize the importance of carefully selecting appropriate material systems for accurate patient-specific biomechanical performance.