Mechanical behavior of endodontically treated teeth: A three-dimensional finite element analysis using displacement...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Mechanics
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Endodontically treated teeth often require coronal restoration.
• Restoration success depends on biomechanical integrity and stress distribution.
• Finite element analysis (FEA) is a valuable tool for simulating complex dental structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze stress distribution in endodontically treated teeth.
• To evaluate the influence of core materials, remaining tooth structure (ferrules), and interfacial bonding.
• To investigate the biomechanical behavior under different restoration scenarios using FEA.

Main Methods:

• Three-dimensional FEA models of maxillary premolars were created using micro-computed tomography.
• Six models were generated with/without ferrules and with metal, resin, or fiber post-resin core systems.
• Bonded and debonded interfacial conditions were simulated to assess stress and displacement.

Main Results:

• Debonded models exhibited higher tensile stresses compared to bonded models across all abutment types.
• Models without ferrules showed significant abutment rotation.
• Models with ferrules demonstrated minimal displacement, indicating enhanced stability.

Conclusions:

• FEA simulating adhesive interface failure effectively demonstrates the critical role of ferrules.
• Ferrules prevent stress concentration in dentin by limiting abutment rotation, crucial for long-term restoration success.
• The presence of a ferrule is vital for maintaining structural integrity, even post-adhesive failure.