A hybrid reaction-diffusion and mechanical stimulus model for mandibular bone remodeling under chewing and vibratory...

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Mechanobiology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Background:

• Mandibular bone remodeling is influenced by mechanical loads and cellular activity.
• Mastication is the primary driver, but low-magnitude vibration may enhance peri-implant bone stability.
• The interaction between vibration and chewing stimuli needs further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a hybrid mechanobiological model for mandibular adaptation.
• To investigate the combined effects of masticatory loads and vibration on bone remodeling.
• To predict peri-implant bone response to mechanical stimuli.

Main Methods:

• Integrated reaction-diffusion and density evolution models for cellular populations and bone density.
• Incorporated adaptive regulation, overload penalization, and frequency-dependent vibratory modulation.
• Performed numerical simulations with spatially resolved density fields and Gaussian-distributed masticatory stresses.

Main Results:

• The model accurately reproduced bone adaptation biphasic responses and chewing-induced densification.
• Superimposed vibration showed frequency-dependent anabolic effects: 40 Hz increased density by 3.5%, 120 Hz by 10%.
• Vibration broadened and homogenized anabolic regions, accelerating cellular population changes.

Conclusions:

• The hybrid model effectively captures mandibular adaptation under combined stimuli.
• Vibration significantly enhances bone density and remodeling, with higher frequencies being more effective.
• The framework supports developing patient-specific vibration-based therapies for oral and maxillofacial biomechanics.