The Restored Premolars Biomechanical Behavior: FEM and Experimental Moiré Analyses

Multi-response optimisation analysis of material properties in dental restorative composites under the influence of thermal and thermomechanical stimuli - A 3D finite element study

OBJECTIVES

Restored teeth undergo more damage than intact teeth. Therefore, the scientific investigation of their mechanical and physical behaviour under varying oral conditions is vital. The current study is to numerically investigate the stresses on a class-II mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) restored molar due to thermal and thermomechanical stimuli with varying input properties such as coefficient of thermal expansion and elastic properties. This is performed to optimise the dental restoration material, thereby reducing the stresses and failure of the restoration.

METHODS

An upper molar was scanned using μ-CT for segmenting and modelling the enamel and dentine. A class-II MOD cavity was then prepared on the model, after which non-manifold meshing was generated. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and elastic modulus (E) properties of the restoration were varied from 20 × 10-6 °C-1 to 55 × 10-6 °C-1 and 5 GPa-20 GPa, respectively. After the material properties and boundary conditions were set for the finite element (FE) analysis, the thermal and thermomechanical loading analyses were performed to demonstrate the influence of input parameters on the stress. The maximum values of principal stresses on the restoration-enamel junction and the restoration were evaluated. The results were statistically processed using analysis of variance, response surface methodology (RSM) and optimisation analysis to estimate the most optimum inputs for minimising principal stresses.

RESULTS

The study reveals that the location of principal stress occurs at the restoration-enamel junction (REJ) and the restoration changes based on the composite material value of E and CTE due to thermal and thermomechanical stimuli. The REJ showed higher principal stress than restoration during the application of both thermal and thermomechanical stimuli, making it more vulnerable to fracture and failure. Moreover, the study showed non-linear variations in the values and locations of principal stresses due to thermal and thermomechanical stimuli with the change in the property of the restoration composite used. Finally, this study derived an optimised restorative value for CTE and E due to the application of thermal and simultaneous thermal and mechanical stimuli.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the importance of choosing the suitable material properties of the restoration composite by dental clinicians to repair a large class MOD cavity. The findings from this study also suggest that the difference in the values of E and CTE in a dental restoration composite when compared with the enamel causes a lack of uniformity in mechanical and thermal properties, thereby forming stress concentrations at the interfaces. The study establishes two optimised CTE and E values for the MOD restoration composite as 25 × 10-6 °C-1 and 20 GPa and 37 × 10-6 °C-1 and 5 GPa, respectively.

Numerical Modeling of a New Type of Prosthetic Restoration for Non-Carious Cervical Lesions

The paper considers a new technology for the treatment of non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs). The three parameterized numerical models of teeth are constructed: without defect, with a V-shaped defect, and after treatment. A new treatment for NCCL has been proposed. Tooth tissues near the NCCLs are subject to degradation. The main idea of the technology is to increase the cavity for the restoration of NCCLs with removal of the affected tissues. The new treatment method also allows the creation of a playground for attaching the gingival margin. The impact of three biomaterials as restorations is studied: CEREC Blocs; Herculite XRV; and Charisma. The models are deformed by a vertical load from the antagonist tooth from 100 to 1000 N. The tooth-inlay system is considered, taking into account the contact interaction. Qualitative patterns of tooth deformation before and after restoration were established for three variants of the inlay material.