[Stress analysis of the mandible by 3D FEA in normal human being under three loading conditions]

The condition and character of stress distribution in the mandibular in normal human being during centric, protrusive, laterotrusive occlusion were analysed.

The three-dimensional finite element model of the mandibular was developed by helica CT scanning and CAD/CAM software, and three-dimensional finite element stress analysis was done by ANSYS software.

Three-dimensional finite element model of the mandibular was generated. Under these three occlusal conditions, the stress of various regions in the mandible were distributed unequally, and the stress feature was different;while the stress of corresponding region in bilateral mandibular was in symmetric distribution. The stress value of condyle neck, the posterior surface of coronoid process and mandibular angle were high.

The material properties of mandible were closely correlated to the value of stress. Stress distribution were similar according to the three different loading patterns, but had different effects on TMJ joint. The concentrated areas of stress were in the condyle neck, the posterior surface of coronoid process and mandibular angle.