The finite element method: a tool to study orthodontic tooth movement

Orthodontic tooth movement is achieved by (re)modeling processes of the alveolar bone, which are triggered by changes in the stress/strain distribution in the periodontium. In the past, the finite element (FE) method has been used to describe the stressed situation within the periodontal ligament (PDL) and surrounding alveolar bone. The present study sought to determine the impact of the modeling process on the outcome from FE analyses and to relate these findings to the current theories on orthodontic tooth movement. In a series of FE analyses simulating teeth subjected to orthodontic loading, the influence of geometry/morphology, material properties, and boundary conditions was evaluated. The accurate description of alveolar bone morphology and the assignment of nonlinear mechanical properties for the PDF elements demonstrate that loading of the periodontium cannot be explained in simple terms of compression and tension along the loading direction. Tension in the alveolar bone was far more predominant than compression.