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Simulation of orthodontic tooth movements

A comparison of numerical models

Simulation orthodontischer Zahnbewegungen

Ein Vergleich numerischer Modelle

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Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics / Fortschritte der Kieferorthopädie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Orthodontic tooth movements are based on the ability of bone to react to mechanical stresses with the apposition and resorption of alveolar bone. Currently, the underlying biophysical, biochemical, and cellular processes are the subject of numerous studies. At present, however, an analytical description of orthodontic tooth movements including all components of the processes involved seems to be impossible. It was the aim of the present study to develop a mechanics-based phenomenological model capable of describing the alveolar bone remodeling.

Thus, 2 different models were developed. The first is based on the assumption that deformations of the periodontal ligament (PDL) are the key stimulus to starting orthodontic tooth movement. The second supposes that deformations of the alveolar bone are the basis of orthodontic bone remodeling. Both models were integrated into a finite element package calculating stresses, strains and deformations of tooth and tooth supporting structures and from this simulating the movement of the tooth and its alveolus through the bone. Clinically induced canine retractions in 5 patients as well as force systems were exactly measured and the tooth movements were simulated using both models.

The results show that the first model allows reliable simulation of orthodontic tooth movements, whereas the second is to be rejected.

Zusammenfassung

Kieferorthopädische Zahnbewegungen beruhen auf der Fähigkeit des Knochens, auf äußere mechanische Reize mit einem Umbau des Kieferknochens zu reagieren. Die zugrundeliegenden Vorgänge laufen auf biophysikalischer, biochemischer und zellulärer Ebene ab und sind derzeit Gegenstand zahlreicher Untersuchungen. Eine geschlossene Beschreibung aller an der Zahnbewegung beteiligten Prozesse durch ein analytisches modell erscheint aufgrund der Komplexität zur Zeit nicht möglich. Wesentliche Erkenntnisse können jedoch bereits gewonnen werden, wenn es gelingt, ein auf der Mechanik basierendes Simulationsmodell aufzustellen, das die Knochenumbauvorgänge phänomenologisch darstellt.

Zur Beschreibung der orthodontischen Zahnbewegung wurden daher zwei Modelle entwickelt. Grundlage des ersten Modells ist die Annahme, daß der mechanische Schlüsselreiz in Deformationen des parodontalen Ligaments zu sehen ist. Das zweite Modell basiert auf der Hypothese, daß Deformationen der Alveolarwand zum Knochenumbau und damit zur orthodontischen Zahnbewegung beitragen. Diese Modelle wurden in ein Finite-Elemente-Programmsystem integriert, das die Berechnung von Spannungen sowie Deformationen von Zahn und Zahnhalteapparat ermöglicht und hieraus die Bewegung des Zahns durch den Knochen berechnet. Zur Verifizierung wurden bei fünf Patienten Eckzahnretraktionen sowie die klinisch eingesetzten Kraftsysteme genau vermessen und mit Hilfe beider Modelle simuliert.

Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß das erste Modell eine gute Vorhersage der orthodontischen Zahnbewegung erlaubt, während die Annahme, daß die mechanischen Deformationen der Alveolarwand den Knochenumbau mitbestimmen, die klinische Realität nicht zutreffend beschreibt.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Poliklinik für Kieferorthopädie, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Welschnonnenstraße 17, D-53111, Bonn

    Christoph Bourauel, Dieter Freudenreich, Dirk Vollmer, Dagmar Kobe & Andreas Jäger

  2. Poliklinik für Kieferorthopädie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany

    Dieter Drescher

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  1. Christoph Bourauel
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  2. Dieter Freudenreich
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  3. Dirk Vollmer
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  4. Dagmar Kobe
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  5. Dieter Drescher
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  6. Andreas Jäger
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Correspondence to Christoph Bourauel.

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Bourauel, C., Freudenreich, D., Vollmer, D. et al. Simulation of orthodontic tooth movements. J Orofac Orthop/Fortschr Kieferorthop 60, 136–151 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01298963

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01298963

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