Evaluation of stresses in hard dental tissues in tooth wear using finite element analysis: A methodological study

Abstract

Mechanical strength of worn hard dental tissues of a tooth crown under its local loading by a hard food particle was evaluated. A mathematical model of a tooth crown was developed as a two-layer elastic solid, which consisted of worn or demineralized worn enamel, and dentine loaded by masticatory forces through a hard food particle in direct contact. A geometrical model of the crown allowed simulation of several stages of enamel wear, resulting in the redistribution of stresses inside the crown tissues. Using finite element method, components of stress state and von Mises equivalent stress along the depth of multi-layer elastic solid were calculated. This methodology allows calculation of limiting values of worn enamel thickness from the viewpoint of dentine overstress prevention.