Tooth morphology and characteristics of non-carious cervical lesions

Two 3-dimensional models, one of a lower second premolar and one of a lower central incisor were used to investigate effects of load on the location and magnitude of cervical strains.

Point loads of 100 N were applied to the model premolar (at the cusp tip, parallel and 45 degrees to the long axis of the tooth) and incisor (at the mid-buccal point on incisal edge, parallel and 45 degrees to the long axis of the tooth). Outputs were presented in the form of tensile-strain contours and vector plots.

Strains were concentrated near the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) regardless of load direction, and oblique loading showed higher tensile strains, opposite to the point of loading, than vertical loading for both models. For the premolar model, regardless of loading direction, strains were concentrated at the mid- buccal CEJ. In contrast, under vertical loading on the incisor model, tensile strains were concentrated at the line-angle of CEJ. From oblique loads, vector plots of both models showed tensile vectors in vertical directions while vertical loads showed tensile vectors in horizontal directions.

Mechanisms of non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) may in part be due the changing orientation of tensile strains as well as their magnitude. Stress concentration at the CEJ related well to the common location of clinical NCCLs. The crown-root morphology may have an influence on the initial location of non-carious cervical lesions.